MB Roland is one of those names that keeps popping up in craft whiskey circles, and for good reason. Their Kentucky Straight Wheat Whiskey landed on my desk at a punchy 55.7% ABV, and I'll be honest — anything bottled at cask strength from a smaller operation immediately gets my attention. There's nowhere to hide at that proof. You're getting the whiskey as the distiller intended it, uncut and unapologetic.
Now, let's address the elephant in the room. Despite being categorised broadly alongside bourbons, this is a wheat whiskey — meaning wheat dominates the mashbill rather than corn or rye. For those unfamiliar, that distinction matters enormously. Wheat-forward whiskeys tend to deliver a softer, rounder mouthfeel compared to their rye-heavy counterparts. Where rye brings spice and bite, wheat brings body and sweetness. At 55.7%, though, don't expect this to be a pushover. That barrel-strength bottling ensures there's plenty of intensity to go around, and the interplay between wheat's natural softness and the heat of high proof is exactly where things get interesting.
Tasting Notes
I don't have detailed tasting note breakdowns to share on this one, but I can tell you what the style promises. Kentucky straight wheat whiskeys at cask strength typically lean into rich, bready sweetness — think honey-drizzled toast, soft vanilla, and a kind of creamy warmth that coats rather than stings. The NAS designation means we're not chasing age here; we're chasing character. And at this proof, the barrel influence should be front and centre without years of maturation doing the heavy lifting. It's the kind of whiskey that rewards patience — a few drops of water will open it up dramatically, and I'd encourage you to spend time with it neat before adding anything.
The Verdict
At £68.75, this sits in a competitive space, but I think it earns its price tag. You're paying for something genuinely different — wheat whiskeys at cask strength are not exactly flooding the market, and finding one from a Kentucky operation adds a layer of regional authenticity that matters. The 55.7% ABV tells me the distiller had confidence in what was coming out of those barrels, and I respect that. This isn't a whiskey designed by committee or diluted to appeal to the widest possible audience. It has a point of view.
I'm giving it an 8.1 out of 10. It's a well-made, characterful spirit that does exactly what it sets out to do — deliver a full-strength wheat whiskey experience without compromise. It loses a fraction of a point simply because the NAS label leaves me wanting more transparency about what's in the bottle, and at this price I'd like to know. But as a drinking experience, it's confident, satisfying, and genuinely worth seeking out if you want to understand what wheat can do when it's given the lead role in a mashbill.
Best Served
Pour it neat in a Glencairn and live with it for ten minutes before you judge it. Then add a teaspoon of water and taste again — you'll get two different whiskeys from the same glass. If you're feeling adventurous, this wheat-forward profile makes a brilliant base for a Whiskey Sour. The natural sweetness and body from the wheat mashbill stand up beautifully against fresh lemon juice, and that cask-strength backbone means the whiskey won't disappear behind the citrus. Use a half-measure less simple syrup than you normally would — the spirit brings its own sweetness to the party.
