Whiskey Acres Farm Crafted America 250 Bourbon 750ML is a limited-edition, estate-grown Illinois bourbon bottled at 53.8% ABV (107.6 proof) in a 750ml bottle. Limited to just 1,776 individually numbered bottles, this release from Whiskey Acres Distilling Co. stands apart through its mashbill of three heirloom corn varietals — including Cocke's Prolific corn grown from seed sourced directly from Thomas Jefferson's Monticello Estate.

Quick Facts: ABV: 53.8% (107.6 Proof)  |  Origin: DeKalb, Illinois, USA  |  NAS Bourbon  |  Distillery: Whiskey Acres Distilling Co.

Production & Heritage

Whiskey Acres Distilling Co. operates a true grain-to-glass program on a working farm in DeKalb, Illinois, where every grain is planted, harvested, milled, distilled, and aged on a single property. The America 250 expression uses a tri-corn mashbill of estate-grown heirloom varietals: Bloody Butcher (red), Cocke's Prolific (white), and Blue Popcorn (blue). The white Cocke's Prolific seed traces its lineage directly to Thomas Jefferson's Monticello Estate — corn descended from crops grown by one of the Founding Fathers roughly 250 years ago. This level of vertical integration, from seed selection through bottling, is exceptionally rare in American whiskey, where even respected craft distilleries typically source commodity grain from external suppliers.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Rich caramel and toasted oak greet the nose first, followed by baking spice and dried corn husk. Given time to breathe, deeper layers of vanilla and roasted grain emerge beneath a light ethanol warmth.

Taste: The entry is bold and grain-forward, with sweet corn and brown sugar arriving immediately. Mid-palate, baking spices — cinnamon, clove, and a touch of black pepper — assert themselves. Charred oak and caramel build toward a satisfying peak that showcases the heirloom corn's distinctive sweetness.

Finish: Long and warming, with lingering oak tannins, toasted grain, and a thread of dark honey. Barrel char persists alongside a subtle peppery spice that slowly fades.

How to Drink America 250

At 107.6 proof, this bourbon rewards patient sipping — try it neat first to appreciate the heirloom grain character, then add a few drops of water to open the mid-palate spices and caramel. A single large ice cube also tempers the proof without drowning the grain-forward profile.

• Old Fashioned: The high proof and brown-sugar sweetness hold up beautifully against bitters and a sugar cube without losing structure.
• Manhattan: Charred oak and baking spice complement sweet vermouth, and the robust proof maintains balance in the cocktail.
• Boulevardier: Dark honey and clove notes pair naturally with Campari's bitterness, creating a rich, layered sipper.

Best For

• Gifting an American history enthusiast who appreciates farm-to-bottle provenance
• Adding a numbered, limited-production bottle to a bourbon collection
• Sharing at a tasting focused on estate-grown or heirloom-grain whiskeys
• Celebrating milestones tied to American heritage or Independence Day

Frequently Asked Questions

What does America 250 taste like? America 250 leads with sweet corn and brown sugar, transitions through cinnamon, clove, and black pepper at mid-palate, and finishes long with oak tannins, dark honey, and barrel char. The heirloom corn varietals contribute a pronounced grain sweetness not commonly found in standard bourbon mashbills.

How does America 250 compare to FEW Bourbon? Both are Illinois-made craft bourbons, but Whiskey Acres grows all its grain on-site, while FEW Bourbon sources grain externally. America 250 is also bottled at a significantly higher 107.6 proof compared to FEW Bourbon's standard 93 proof, delivering a bolder, more barrel-forward profile.

Is America 250 good for sipping neat? Yes — at 107.6 proof it carries intensity, but the estate-grown heirloom corn provides a natural sweetness that balances the heat. A few drops of water can further unlock the caramel and vanilla layers for those who prefer a gentler pour.

Where is America 250 made? America 250 is distilled and aged at Whiskey Acres Distilling Co. in DeKalb, Illinois, on a working farm where all grain used in production is planted, harvested, and milled on the same property.

What foods pair well with America 250? Smoked brisket highlights the charred oak and peppery spice. Sharp aged cheddar complements the caramel and brown sugar sweetness. Cornbread with honey butter echoes the grain-forward character. Pecan pie mirrors the dark honey finish, and dark chocolate with sea salt contrasts the barrel proof intensity.

What sizes does America 250 come in? America 250 is available in the standard 750ml bottle, with each of the 1,776 bottles individually numbered.

Is America 250 worth the price? America 250 positions as a premium, limited-production craft bourbon. Its value proposition rests on genuine rarity — 1,776 numbered bottles, estate-grown heirloom grain with documented Monticello provenance, and full grain-to-glass production — distinctions that most bourbons at any price point cannot claim.

Why America 250?

What separates America 250 from the vast majority of bourbon on the market is verifiable provenance down to the seed. The Cocke's Prolific corn in this mashbill traces directly to Thomas Jefferson's Monticello, and every step from planting through bottling happens on one Illinois farm — a claim almost no other American whiskey producer can make. With only 1,776 bottles produced and each one numbered, this is a genuinely limited release rather than a marketing exercise in artificial scarcity. For drinkers who value transparency of origin and the flavor impact of heirloom grain at barrel-proof strength, America 250 represents something the bourbon category rarely delivers: a bottle whose story is as substantive as its liquid.