Every now and then a distillery decides to step outside of its comfort zone and throw something unexpected onto the shelf. That’s exactly what Bulleit did with their Mesquite Smoked Malt Straight Bourbon Whiskey. Most people know Bulleit for dependable pours like their bourbon and rye, staples that show up in countless cocktails and back bars because they’re affordable, approachable, and easy to enjoy. But over the last few years, Bulleit has been experimenting more with limited releases, older age statements, bottled-in-bond offerings, and even American single malts.
Now they’ve decided to lean into smoked grain territory. Instead of relying on rye for spice, this bourbon swaps things around with a mash bill featuring mesquite smoked malted barley. That immediately raises questions because smoked whiskey can go one of two ways: either balanced and interesting, or completely overpowering. Thankfully, this release lands much closer to the first category. This limited release feels like Bulleit testing the waters without going too far off the deep end. It’s sourced and aged by Bulleit, carries no age statement, and from the color alone it definitely appears to be on the younger side. Still, unique mash bills deserve attention, especially when major bourbon brands are willing to take some risks.
Age Statement: N/A.
ABV: 46.5%.
Mash bill: 65% corn, 30% mesquite smoked malted barley, 5% malted barley.
Area of Distillation: Kentucky.
Appearance: Pale golden.
On the nose:
The nose is surprisingly restrained. If the words “mesquite smoked malt” sound intimidating, don’t worry because the smoke here is subtle and approachable. There’s a soft layer of vanilla, caramel, and dusty corn sweetness upfront, followed by a gentle oakiness and light barrel char. The mesquite influence comes across more like opening the lid of a smoker the morning after a barbecue session rather than standing beside an active campfire. It’s sweet smoke instead of aggressive smoke.
Underneath that sits a slightly waxy malt character with earthy undertones that give the whiskey a very craft-distillery style personality. Nothing smells harsh or immature despite the likely younger age. It’s simple, approachable, and honestly pretty inviting.
Taste:
The palate is where this whiskey really works. The smoke carries through, but it stays balanced against classic bourbon flavors. Brown sugar, caramel, vanilla, and sweet corn notes form the foundation while the mesquite smoke adds a sweet barbecue-like quality rather than heavy ash or peat. There’s a nice coating texture across the palate with a mild drying effect toward the finish.
A little spice develops late, almost mimicking rye whiskey spice despite there being no rye in the mash bill at all. The wood sugars do a lot of work here, helping tie the sweet and smoky elements together. What stands out most is how approachable it remains. Bulleit clearly played this release safe in the best possible way. They added enough smoke to make it unique without making it divisive.
Finish:
The finish leans earthy, smoky, and lightly sweet with lingering wood sugars and mesquite character hanging around longer than expected. There’s still enough caramel and vanilla underneath to remind you that this is fundamentally a bourbon, but the smoky barbecue influence keeps it feeling different from nearly anything else on the shelf. It almost feels like a crossover between bourbon and a lightly peated malt whiskey, while still remaining accessible to bourbon drinkers.
Final Thoughts:
Bulleit could have easily turned this into a gimmick release, but instead they delivered something surprisingly balanced and enjoyable. The mesquite smoked malt adds real personality without overwhelming the whiskey, and the approachable profile makes it easy to recommend even to people who normally avoid smoky pours. This isn’t an ultra-complex bourbon and it likely isn’t very old, but that honestly works in its favor.
The younger profile allows the smoked grain character to stay vibrant and noticeable without becoming buried under heavy oak influence. For around $45, this feels like a successful experiment and one of the more unique mainstream bourbon releases in recent memory. It also sounds like an absolute winner for smoked cocktails or creative old fashioneds.
Rating: B (Above average).
Cost: $44.99 for 750ml.
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