Maker’s Mark Made a Wheat Whiskey… But Is Star Hill Farm 2026 Worth the Price?

This week on the Bourbon Bytes podcast, we’re heading into July 4th weekend with a packed lineup of whiskey and gaming news before reviewing one of Maker’s Mark’s biggest experiments yet: Star Hill Farm 2026. Bulleit just announced its oldest rye ever: a 20-year-old, 137-proof release limited to 1,776 bottles for America’s 250th anniversary. Redwood Empire is also back with Colonel Armstrong Wheated Bourbon, a new $40 four-grain release blending Northern California grain-to-glass whiskey with Kentucky and Indiana high-wheat bourbon. We also talk about Dragon Con Bourbon, a nerdy collaboration with Atlanta’s Old Fourth Distillery, and Sweetens Cove Father’s Finish, a bourbon finished in cuvée wine barrels with a golf-themed cork design. On the gaming side, Nintendo finally brings Star Fox to the Switch 2 with a modern remake of Star Fox 64. Then it’s time for a Byte-Sized Review of Maker’s Mark Star Hill Farm 2026. This is not bourbon. It’s an American wheat whiskey made with 27% wheat, 62% malted wheat, and 11% malted barley, designed to highlight estate-grown grain and regenerative agriculture at Maker’s Mark. At 116.4 proof and around $120, Star Hill Farm 2026 brings cola, vanilla cream, tart cherry, powdered sugar, brûléed sugar, and dessert-like sweetness. But does it deliver enough complexity to justify the price? 🥃 Topics covered: Bulleit 20 Year Rye Redwood Empire Colonel Armstrong Wheated Bourbon Dragon Con Bourbon Sweetens Cove Father’s Finish Star Fox on Nintendo Switch 2 Maker’s Mark Star Hill Farm 2026 review Final score and whether it’s worth buying Would you pay $100-$120 for Maker’s Mark’s new wheat whiskey experiment? YouTube Chapter Markers 00:00 Intro – Bulleit, Dragon Con, Star Fox & Star Hill Farm 00:28 Welcome + July 4th Weekend Setup 01:14 Bulleit 20 Year Rye 03:07 Redwood Empire Colonel Armstrong Wheated Bourbon 03:59 Dragon Con Bourbon 05:23 Sweetens Cove Father’s Finish 06:24 Star Fox Comes to Nintendo Switch 2 07:53 Byte-Sized Review – Maker’s Mark Star Hill Farm 2026 15:56 Outro + Community Question