Harlen D. Wheatley CLIX Vodka

Detailed Description

Harlen Davis Wheatley is the Master Distiller at Buffalo Trace, the man behind the creation of this vodka. The ‘CLIX’ in the name refers to the number ‘159’ expressed in Roman numerals, the number of distillations used to make this vodka. (Each plate in a column still is technically a distillation.) HDW CLIX is made 2,000 bottles at a time from 143 different 200 gallon batches of wash fermented from different mash bills of corn, wheat, rye and malted barley. These are fermented and distilled over a period of six months in specially constructed copper and stainless steel still. After distillation the vodka is rested for 12 months in stainless steel tanks prior to bottling.

Launched mid-November 2012, HDW CLIX is bottled in lead free crystal decanter presented in a hand-crafted burl wood case with shipping stopper and a crystal stopper, and each decanter is individually numbered. All that effort and craftsmanship goes some way to justify the $250 price tag.

Harlen D. Wheatley CLIX Vodka Tasting Notes

Nose: Very clean with a sweet grain, lightly sweetened lemon and royal icing.

Palate: Oily, with a hint of charcoal, more of the sweetened lemon from the nose and a light, almost woody spiciness.

Finish: Minimal, with a touch of apple skin that fades to fruity dark chocolate.

Distillery Information

Buffalo Trace Distillery is a distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky, that is owned by the Sazerac Company. It has historically been known by several names, including the George T. Stagg Distillery and the Old Fire Copper Distillery.