Frank August Case Study: 08 Winter Wheated Reserve is the eighth release in the acclaimed Case Study series and the brand's second wheated bourbon — a winter-distillation selection carrying an eight-year age statement but closer to nine years old, bottled at barrel strength, 108.8 proof.
Case Study: 08 traces its story back to Case Study: 05, Frank August's first wheated release, which was named World's Best Wheated Bourbon at the 2025 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. For CS:08, the team returned to the same lots with a more focused selection, choosing only barrels from winter distillations. Because of when they were filled, these barrels carry an eight-year age statement but are closer to nine years old. The result is a new expression of a familiar whiskey — eight distinct batches, each composed of eight hand-selected barrels, bringing together the softness and balance that set CS:05 apart with the added depth that only more time in American oak can give. Like every Case Study release, it is a true one-of-one expression, shaped by a singular selection and never to be produced again.
Tasting Notes
Appearance: Deep burnished copper with amber highlights; thick, slow legs suggest a rich, velvety body.
Nose: Warm and layered, with crème brûlée, baked pear, and brown butter; as it opens, honeyed pastry, toasted pecan, polished oak, and a whisper of cinnamon bark come forward.
Palate: Plush and full from the first sip, with dark caramel, maple, and butterscotch joined by baked cherry and soft baking spice; the wheat gives a creamy, rounded texture, and the extra years add depth with hints of leather and dark chocolate.
Finish: Long, warming, and elegant, with vanilla custard, toasted oak, and gentle spice fading slowly.
Specifications
Producer: Frank August
Series: Case Study: 08 (Winter Wheated Reserve)
Style: Kentucky Straight Wheated Bourbon Whiskey (barrel strength)
Age: 8 Years (winter distillation, closer to 9 years)
Batch: 8 batches of 8 hand-selected barrels each
ABV: 54.4% (108.8 proof)
Origin: Distilled, aged & bottled in Kentucky
Size: 750mL
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Case Study: 08?
It is the eighth release in Frank August's Case Study series and the brand's second wheated bourbon, selected entirely from winter-distillation barrels and bottled at barrel strength, 108.8 proof.
How does it relate to Case Study: 05?
CS:08 returns to the same lots as CS:05 — which was named World's Best Wheated Bourbon at the 2025 San Francisco World Spirits Competition — with a more focused selection of winter-distilled barrels, adding depth from extra time in oak.
How old is it and what proof?
It carries an eight-year age statement but is closer to nine years old, bottled at 54.4% ABV (108.8 proof).
