First Sip

I cracked this one on a Tuesday evening, the kind of calm where you can hear the cicadas tune up and the dog is trying real hard to pretend he didn’t just roll in something mysterious. Nothing fancy going on, just me, a quiet porch, and a glass waiting on a little comfort. I’ve been working my way through Columbus bottles lately, and this High Bank Small Batch — Batch 2 — fits right into that simple, steady routine. It’s a wheated release, which already had me thinking daily sipper territory. After a couple pours, I’d say that’s exactly where it lands.

This one doesn’t have an age statement, and I’m guessing it’s somewhere around that mid-single-digit mark. Don’t quote me on it; I’ll update this when I get the chance to ask the folks at High Bank about the mash bill and aging details. As best I can tell, this batch seems to be one of their house-made efforts, while some of the other labels they’ve put out over the years have been sourced. Columbus crew, Columbus grain, Columbus attitude. The current small batch out there right now is Batch 3, so I’m curious to see what tweaks they’ve made as they keep dialing things in.

The Pour

In the glass, it’s a deep amber that catches the porch light easy. Looks like something that’s seen real wood, not just a cameo appearance. It holds to the glass well enough to let you know there’s some body here without turning syrupy. Proof is 93, which is a sweet spot for weeknights. Enough oomph to matter, not enough to pick a fight.

First whiff off the rim had me nodding yes before I even took a sip. It’s got that pleasant grain-forward glow you expect from a wheated whiskey, but it’s dressed up a little nicer than basic.

Nose

Grain and wheat come through first, warm and clean, like fresh cereal in a breakfast bowl. There’s a floral note hanging around the edges, not perfume, more like a quiet little bloom in the hedgerow. Cherry pops up next, followed by darker fruit that leans into plum and a hint of raisin. Vanilla tags along and ties it together. Nothing shouts. It all behaves, which I appreciate. If you’re looking for heavy spice, this ain’t that. This is easygoing and friendly, more orchard than bakery, with just enough sweetness to keep your nose coming back.

Palate

First sip lands cool, almost shy, then warms up slow, like it just remembered it’s whiskey. Caramel and vanilla set the tone right away. If you grew up sneaking bowls of Honey Smacks, congrats, you’re about to have a flashback. That honeyed cereal vibe hits just right, and it’s not cloying. The wheat keeps things smooth and round. Oak hangs back at first, then steps forward in the mid-palate just enough to give it some backbone.

Spice is light. A little cinnamon dust if you go hunting for it, but nothing prickly. Fruit keeps showing up in the form of cherry and darker stone fruit, and it plays nice with the sweetness. No smoke to speak of, and nuttiness doesn’t really take the stage. The body sits in that center lane, not thin, not heavy. It’s the kind of pour you can sip without thinking too hard, until you suddenly realize you’re paying attention to it anyway.

Finish

Finish is medium, smooth as a polished handle. Oak takes its moment, and there’s a leathery little nod in there that gives it a touch of maturity without turning dusty. It doesn’t vanish quick, but it also doesn’t camp out and ask for rent. Heat stays easy. You feel it, sure, but it doesn’t lean into you. More of a warm handshake than a chest thump.

The Verdict

If you’re hunting a daily wheated pour that doesn’t demand a whole spotlight, Batch 2 from High Bank is a real solid pick. It checks the right boxes for a weeknight glass: friendly nose, sweet but tidy palate, just enough fruit to keep it lively, and a clean, oak-and-leather finish that knows when to leave the room. The balance is what sells it. Nothing feels out of place, and that’s exactly what makes it so easy to reach for.

Folks around Columbus know High Bank for more than just spirits. They’ve built a local footprint with food and drink spots around town, and this bottle feels like it came from people who care about hospitality as much as hardware. I wish their site had more nerd notes on this batch, because I’d love to dig into the mash bill and time in wood. I’ll keep poking around and update when I hear something direct from them. Until then, I’m comfortable saying this is likely one of their in-house builds and a good sign of where their wheated profile is headed.

Would I pour this for friends who “don’t really drink whiskey” but want to try something nice? Absolutely. Would I set it out at a cookout and watch the bottle quietly disappear while folks tell the same stories they told last summer? Also yes. If you’re a spice hound or you want a big oak wallop, this might come off a little polite. But if you like a smooth, grain-forward glass with caramel, vanilla, and that honeyed cereal comfort, this one does the job and does it well.

As of right now, Batch 3 is what’s on shelves. If it keeps this balance and maybe adds a touch more depth around the mid-palate, we’re gonna be in real good shape. Either way, Batch 2 earns its keep as a dependable porch companion. No fuss, no frills, just a good pour from a hometown distiller that’s finding its stride. I’ll raise another glass to that and let the cicadas play us out.