Whiskey Acres Oaxacan Green Corn Bourbon 750ML

Whiskey Acres Oaxacan Green Corn Bourbon 750ML is a 95.6-proof (47.8% ABV), 750ml estate bourbon from DeKalb, Illinois, built around a rare heirloom corn variety. This expression highlights Oaxacan Green corn — an ancient landrace variety originally cultivated in southern Mexico — grown on the Whiskey Acres farm and distilled on-site, making it one of the few true single-heritage-grain bourbons available from an American estate distillery.

Quick Facts: ABV: 47.8% (95.6 Proof)  |  Origin: DeKalb, Illinois, USA  |  Heirloom Corn Bourbon  |  Distillery: Whiskey Acres

Production & Heritage

Whiskey Acres operates as Illinois' first estate distillery, with the distillery and its grain fields occupying the same farmland in DeKalb County. The family farm has been in operation since the mid-19th century and transitioned into distilling to showcase the flavor potential of different corn and grain varieties grown on its soil. For this expression, the distillery substitutes its standard yellow-dent corn with Oaxacan Green corn — a striking, jade-kerneled heirloom variety prized for its higher starch content and distinctive flavor characteristics. The grain is estate-grown, milled, mashed, fermented, and distilled entirely on-site before aging in new charred American oak barrels. This grain-to-glass approach means terroir and corn genetics directly shape the final spirit in a way commodity-grain bourbons simply cannot replicate.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Opening notes of roasted corn and dried herbs give way to toasted oak and a subtle earthiness. A faint sweetness reminiscent of honey and dried grass rounds out the nose.

Taste: The palate entry is rich and grainy, with a pronounced corn-forward sweetness that reads more savory and vegetal than a standard yellow-corn bourbon. Mid-palate flavors of caramel, black pepper, and dried sage build toward a warm, slightly spicy peak. The heirloom corn lends a mineral-like depth that distinguishes this pour from more conventional mashbills.

Finish: Medium-long, with lingering roasted grain, oak tannins, and a faintly herbaceous quality. A trace of baking spice and toasted cornbread carries through the close.

How to Drink Oaxacan Green Corn Bourbon

Neat or with a few drops of water is the ideal starting point — the heirloom corn character is the entire reason this bourbon exists, and dilution helps open those earthy, herbal nuances. A single large ice cube also works well, rounding the 95.6-proof heat while preserving the grain-driven complexity.

In cocktails, it brings a distinctive twist to classic templates: an Old Fashioned gains an herbal backbone that complements the bitters beautifully; a Corn & Oil riff (substituting this bourbon for rum alongside falernum and bitters) plays off the spirit's roasted-corn character; and a Boulevardier benefits from the bourbon's earthy weight, standing up to Campari's bitterness without losing its identity.

Best For

• Bourbon enthusiasts exploring heirloom grain and terroir-driven American whiskey
• Gifting a farm-to-bottle spirit to someone who values provenance and small-batch production
• Side-by-side tastings comparing heritage corn varieties against standard yellow-dent corn bourbons
• Craft cocktail experimentation where an unusual, grain-forward bourbon adds complexity

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Oaxacan Green Corn Bourbon taste like? It delivers a savory, corn-forward sweetness with herbal and earthy undertones that set it apart from conventional bourbons, complemented by caramel, black pepper, and toasted oak.

How does Oaxacan Green Corn Bourbon compare to Whiskey Acres Bottled in Bond? The Bottled in Bond uses a 75% yellow-dent corn and 15% wheat mashbill at 100 proof, producing a softer, sweeter profile, while the Oaxacan Green Corn expression spotlights a single heirloom variety at 95.6 proof with noticeably more herbal and earthy grain character.

Is Oaxacan Green Corn Bourbon good for sipping neat? Yes — neat is arguably the best way to experience it, as the heirloom corn's distinctive flavor profile is the defining feature and comes through most clearly without dilution or mixers.

Where is Oaxacan Green Corn Bourbon made? It is distilled at Whiskey Acres in DeKalb, Illinois, on the same farmland where the Oaxacan Green corn is grown, making it a fully estate-produced bourbon.

What foods pair well with Oaxacan Green Corn Bourbon? Grilled corn with chili-lime butter echoes the spirit's corn-forward profile; smoked pork shoulder complements its oak and spice notes; aged cheddar mirrors its savory depth; mole negro highlights the shared Oaxacan heritage of the corn; and cornbread with honey butter ties directly into the roasted-grain finish.

What sizes does Oaxacan Green Corn Bourbon come in? The standard release is a 750ml bottle.

Is Oaxacan Green Corn Bourbon worth the price? It positions as a small-batch, estate-grown craft bourbon in the premium tier, justified by the rarity of its heirloom grain, fully on-site production from field to bottle, and a flavor profile unavailable from larger distilleries using commodity corn.

Why Oaxacan Green Corn Bourbon?

The single most compelling thing about this bourbon is its grain. Oaxacan Green corn is not a blending component or a marketing flourish — it is an heirloom landrace variety with measurably different starch and flavor characteristics than the yellow-dent corn used in virtually every mainstream bourbon on the market. Whiskey Acres grows it on-site and controls every step from planting through bottling, a vertical integration almost no American whiskey producer can match. The result is a bourbon that tastes meaningfully different from its peers, offering herbal and earthy dimensions rarely found in the category. For anyone interested in how grain genetics and terroir shape American whiskey, this is one of the most direct and transparent expressions available.