The Bourbon Inspector Insiders echoed these sentiments, voting it as the best value Weller at realistic retail prices. Although it carries a slightly higher proof, it’s a testament to the skillful balance of flavor and strength that makes this expression a fan favorite. W. L. Weller 12 Year Old Bourbon won the designation of "Extraordinary / Ultimate Recommendation (95–100 pts)" from the 2015 Ultimate Spirits Challenge and a Silver Outstanding medal from the 2015 International Wine & Spirits Competition (UK). With a balanced 45% ABV, the Weller 12 Year walks the line between approachable and complex, making it a favorite among both seasoned enthusiasts and newcomers alike. With the steady supply, it is nearly impossible to maintain an excellent inventory in different stores across the U.S.

Most whiskey products use chill-filtering to reduce the alcohol content before transferring them into the bottles. Stay tuned for our thorough ranking and discover the #1 Weller bourbon without ever lifting a glass. The Best Weller Bourbon in 2023 After Antique 107 and Full Proof, the Single Barrel proof is the latest addition to the brand’s lineup, which was released in June 2020 and is bottled at 97 proof. W. L. Weller Centennial was aged for 10 years and bottled at 100 proof. It went out of production in 2009. It’s easy to want to hate Weller 12 Year. It was once a bottom shelf bourbon that was flung into limelight when its connections to Pappy Van Winkle bourbons became well known. It encapsulates everything that’s currently wrong with the bourbon market: overly-frenzied consumers, store owner overreach, and an out-of-control secondary market. Yet at the end of the day, none of that has a direct effect on the bourbon in the bottle.Value, because a top-notch bourbon that breaks the bank can hardly be considered a sensible choice for most. In this guide, we will take a closer look at this cherished alcoholic beverage. We'll also discuss where to buy Weller bourbon and provide tips on choosing the right bottle for your needs. So whether you are a first-time buyer or an experienced connoisseur, read on for all you need to know about Weller bourbon. The bouquet is a symphony of toasted oak, dark chocolate, and vanilla, adding depth to the drinking experience. Though its price may be steep due to its age (usually over 12 years) and rarity, the unparalleled taste and sophistication of William Larue Weller make it a justifiable indulgence.

Affordable, available Weller 12 went the way of the dodo. Despite its low MSRP, it's essentially considered a luxury good — just look at the wealthy Dutton family guzzling it down as their bourbon of choice on Yellowstone. Today, even much more affordable (and frankly, less good) Wellers like Antique are marked up and hard to find, as demand works its way down the food chain. The term uncut works almost the same way. It dilutes the spirit to reach a lower alcohol content, most commonly 45% A.B.V. What Is W.L. Weller Craft Your Perfect Bourbon (C.Y.P.B.)? WLW is always aged at least 12 years and bottled at barrel proof. That proof has seen wild swings from year to year with it being as high as 140.2 and as low as 117.9 proof. This is even more impressive when you consider that the distillate goes into the barrel at 114 proof. Notably, William Larue Weller hired the famous Julian Van Winkle, who would later be known as “Pappy.” Van Winkle began his career working for Weller. Weller passed in 1899, and coincidentally his company, W.L. Weller & Sons, later merged with the A. Ph. Stitzel Distillery which was owned by his former employee, Julian “Pappy” Van Winkle. The companies worked together through Prohibition operating under a medicinal license, and eventually became the Stitzel-Weller Distilling Company in 1935.

https://www.pastemagazine.com/drink/whiskey/buffalo-trace-bourbon-rye-buying-guide-prices-brands-value/#eagle-rare While it may share similar mash bill and barrel specifications as Pappy, Weller bourbons have a unique flavor profile, making it one of the most sought-after spirits in the market today. I don’t think this one will be too controversial. Weller Special Reserve is the entry-level bourbon for the Weller line – and it shows. The nose opens with bright hints of ripe red cherries and continues to the mouth with a soft vanilla and dry wood taste. The Weller bourbon brand is owned and distilled by Buffalo Trace Distillery. The Weller label gets added to any whiskey that uses Buffalo Trace’s “Original Wheated Bourbon” mash bill. This mash bill is shrouded in secrecy, but the distillery does tell us that they’ve “replaced rye with wheat”, which lends to a very unique flavor profile. These whiskeys still fall under the bourbon categorization, because they are still over 51% corn (and meet all the other criteria).

The palate of the high-quality bourbon is full of sweetness, from bright fruit notes to candied caramel and vanilla. But the sip finishes with a little spicy and heated layer of oaky notes since it contains higher proof than The distillation process is meticulous, with careful attention paid to the selection of grains, the fermentation process, and the distillation temperatures. After distillation, the whiskey is aged in new, charred oak barrels, which impart a deep amber colour and contribute to the complex flavours of vanilla, caramel, and oak. In enjoying a glass of William Larue Weller, aficionados recommend a splash of water or a cube of ice to open up the flavours, especially given its high proof. It's a whiskey best savoured slowly, with each sip revealing more depth and complexity. BEST IN SHOW; Best of Division; Best of Category Los Angeles International Wine & Spirits Competition They’ll also have their favorite years while saying other years are just okay. But it’s WLW we’re talking about here – the cream of the crop.

William Larue Weller is the original maker of Weller bourbons. After his death, Julian Winkle bought and merged the company with Stitzel. The William Larue Weller is more unique than the other members of the W.L. Weller line because it is the only expression that uses the creator’s full name. The wheated bourbon is unfiltered, uncut, hand-bottled, and barrel-proof. These terms significantly impact the final flavor profile of the liquor. Products from Maker’s Mark almost taste like Weller because both are wheated whiskey brands using almost the same mash bill percentage.

The heat intensifies as it finishes in a long and drying spiciness since it has higher proof than other Weller Single barrel bourbons. 2. Weller Aged 12 Years This twelve-year-old W.L. Weller is a wheated bourbon that has matured significantly longer than other wheated bourbons. This bourbon has a wonderful rich bronze hue and is smooth, easygoing, and balanced.

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Don’t confuse this to mean that Weller barrels are the reject barrels. Plenty of enthusiasts have found the Weller family of products to be just as good and a whole lot easier to find at a local liquor store. W.L Weller Antique is a wheated bourbon with full-bodied flavors and a balanced palate. The W.L Weller Antique is bottled at 107 proof and offers a complex taste and bold finish. W.L. antique is a well-known Weller label member, with its distinct characteristics to compliment the high proof. It eventually builds up with white pepper and dark chocolate notes and slowly finishes with woody vanilla and mild tobacco with a smooth finish. The Weller Bourbon collection is a line of bourbons made by the Buffalo Trace Distillery. The collection includes several flavors like: The Weller brand has seen a lot of changes throughout the years, but since about 2014, it’s really taken off. It’s is a great bourbon, don’t get me wrong, but it owes almost all of its current hype to another bourbon that shares the same recipe: Pappy Van Winkle. Weller’s Wheated Bourbon Recipe