Best Weller Bourbon

Last Updated on: 24th April 2024, 09:42 pm

With the assistance of whiskey expert Neil Coleman and valuable customer insights, I have reviewed and ranked every Weller release and determined which is the best.

Written by: J Highland

Choosing the Best Weller

For Easy-Sipping, Crowd-Pleasing Sweetness:

• Weller CYPB: This wheated bourbon prioritizes smoothness and sweetness over complexity. It features notes of cherry, butterscotch, maple, and a hint of cinnamon, making it a pleasant and approachable choice for casual drinkers.

For Smooth Wheat Flavor at a Reasonable Price:

• Weller Special Reserve: This wheated bourbon offers a classic wheated bourbon profile with a smooth taste of caramel, vanilla, chocolate, and baking spice. It’s easy on the palate and enjoyable for everyday sipping.

For Serious Bourbon Enthusiasts Who Appreciate High-Proof Wheated Whiskey:

• Weller Full Proof: This uncut wheated bourbon packs a flavor punch with notes of baked apple, cherry, baking spice, and oak. The high proof delivers a satisfying kick for those who enjoy bolder bourbons.

For Wheated Bourbon with a Peppery Kick and Interesting Complexity:

• Weller Antique 107: This wheated bourbon offers a balance of sweetness (caramel, vanilla) and a spicy kick (oak, pepper) at a higher proof. It’s a great choice for those who want a more characterful wheated bourbon experience.

For the Ultimate Wheated Bourbon Experience (be prepared for price and availability):

• William Larue Weller: This wheated bourbon masterpiece is a luxurious, uncut expression with a rich taste of caramel, vanilla, baking spice, and oak. The high proof and long finish make it a special occasion bourbon.

A Few Caveats:

• Weller bourbons are generally hard to find at retail price due to their popularity. Be prepared for inflated prices or limited availability.
• Consider adding a drop of water to any of these Wellers to unlock more flavor dimensions and reduce heat (especially for higher proof options).

I hope this helps you find the perfect Weller for your taste!

Quick Note: Running a pub and liquor store provides me ample access to various spirits, in addition, I moonlight as a spirits distiller. I assess them using customer feedback, expert opinions and online research.

Weller CYPB: The Crowd-Pleasing Bourbon

• Nose: Cherry, butterscotch, maple
• Palate: Oak, vanilla, cinnamon
• Finish: Ripe fruit, vanilla, cinnamon
• Alcohol content: 95 proof (42.5% ABV)
• How to drink: Rocks

Weller CYPB, or “Craft Your Perfect Bourbon,” is a unique experiment – the first bourbon ever created with over 100,000 people’s input.

The nose is inviting with hints of cherry, butterscotch, and maple. The taste is smooth and approachable, featuring caramel, vanilla, and a touch of cinnamon. While light-bodied and lacking complexity, it offers a pleasant drinking experience with a long finish of fruit, vanilla, and lingering cinnamon.

This easy-sipping wheated bourbon prioritizes crowd-pleasing sweetness over boldness, making it enjoyable but not particularly memorable. The subtle spice on the finish fades without leaving a lasting impression, states whiskey expert Neil Coleman.

Weller Special Reserve: Wheated Sweetness for Easy Sipping

• Nose: Maple, apple, leather, oak
• Palate: Caramel, vanilla, chocolate, baking spice
• Finish: Old leather, cinnamon, oak
• Alcohol content: 90 proof (45% ABV)
• How to drink: Rocks

Weller Special Reserve offers a smooth, wheated bourbon experience.

The nose is a delightful mix of maple, honey, and apples, balanced by subtle hints of old leather and oak. The taste starts sweet with caramel, vanilla, and cinnamon, then transitions to rich dark chocolate with a touch of citrus zest. The finish is warm and inviting, lingering with old leather, spicy cinnamon candy, and a touch of oak spice.

This wheated bourbon prioritizes smoothness – it’s easy on the palate with minimal burn. A splash of water reveals more sweetness and oak complexity. While it might lack a fuller body, its smooth, sweet character makes it a satisfying choice for casual sipping.

Weller 12: Smooth But Short-Lived Delight

• Nose: Caramel, cinnamon, oak
• Palate: Cherry, cinnamon, vanilla, oak
• Finish: Cinnamon, caramel, vanilla
• Alcohol content: 90 proof (45% ABV)
• How to drink: Rocks

Weller 12 entices with a sweet nose of brown sugar, vanilla, baking spice, and oak. The taste is rich and oily, featuring prominent vanilla, caramel, and cherry with a touch of oak. The finish is smooth and short, lacking complexity.

Adding water brings out a hint of spice, but doesn’t extend the finish. While enjoyable for its smoothness and buttery texture, the brevity of the finish and its similarity to a matured Special Reserve make its value questionable.

Weller Single Barrel: Smooth sipper, Watch the Price

• Nose: Caramel, cinnamon, oak
• Palate: Cherry, cinnamon, vanilla, oak
• Finish: Cinnamon, caramel, vanilla
• Alcohol content: 97 proof (43.5% ABV)
• How to drink: Add water

Weller Single Barrel offers a subtle aroma of brown sugar and oak. The taste starts warm, then unfolds into honey, caramel, and cinnamon with a creamy texture. The finish is medium-length, leaving a warming oak spice and the signature sweet brown sugar of Buffalo Trace whiskeys.

Enjoy it neat, but a drop of water helps tame the warmth and reveals more sweetness and oak. While very enjoyable, be cautious of inflated secondary market prices – its value might not match the hype.

Weller Full Proof: Wheated Powerhouse for Bourbon Enthusiasts

• Nose: Vanilla, cherry, baking spice
• Palate: Baked apple, cherry, baking spice
• Finish: Long, baking spice, cherry
• Alcohol content: 104 proof (57% ABV)
• How to drink: Add water

Weller Full Proof delivers a robust, uncut bourbon experience.

The nose is rich with vanilla, cherry, and baking spice. The taste is a full-bodied delight, featuring a buttery texture and notes of baked apple, tart cherry, vanilla, warm spices, and oak. The long, warming finish offers a satisfying spiciness.

Despite its high 117 proof, it’s surprisingly easy to drink – the slight burn is balanced by the richness of flavors. This is an exceptional choice for bourbon enthusiasts who appreciate a wheated whiskey with a kick.

Weller Antique 107: Wheated Delight with a Peppery Kick

• Nose: Caramel, vanilla, cinnamon
• Palate: Caramel, vanilla, tobacco, cinnamon, oak
• Finish: Long, oak, baking spice
• Alcohol content: 107 proof (53.5% ABV)
• How to drink: Rocks

Weller Antique 107 offers a sweet wheated bourbon experience. The nose is inviting with butterscotch, vanilla, and a hint of cinnamon. The taste is creamy and buttery, bursting with sweetness and bready notes. Flavors of caramel, vanilla, tobacco, and cinnamon mingle with a touch of oak. The finish has a lingering peppery warmth, but it’s still satisfying.

While not the smoothest, it’s not harsh. Adding water unlocks more flavor dimensions, introducing apple and cherry notes while reducing the heat. This wheated bourbon offers a characterful sip at an attractive price, making it a worthy addition to your whiskey collection.

William Larue Weller: A Luxurious Wheated Treasure

• Nose: Vanilla, cherry, oak
• Palate: Caramel, vanilla, cinnamon, oak
• Finish: Long, pleasantly warm, caramel
• Alcohol content: 127 proof (63.5% ABV)
• How to drink: Add water

William Larue Weller is a wheated bourbon masterpiece. This 12-year-old uncut gem boasts a robust 125.7 proof.

The nose is a rich bold hit of vanilla, cherry, and oak. The taste unfolds with warmth, then transitions to a harmonious blend of caramel, vanilla, baking spice, and oak, all wrapped in a luxurious, oily body. The finish is long and smooth, highlighting caramel and oak.

Savor it slowly – this is a bourbon to celebrate life’s special moments. A drop of water unlocks hidden notes of chocolate, vanilla, and cherry, further elevating its exceptional profile.

Be prepared for a hefty price tag and limited availability, but for those who can acquire it, William Larue Weller is a truly remarkable wheated whiskey.

Learn more: Weller Bourbon Website

Buying Guide

Whiskey	Price	Proof	Aging
CYPB	$700	95	6-8
Special Reserve	$60	90	6-8
Weller 12	$240	90	12
Single Barrel	$900	97	6-8
Full Proof	$450	114	6-8
Antique 107	$125	107	6-8
William Larue Weller	$1,000	126	12

Every release is made using the same mash bill.

Frequently Asked Questions: Exploring Weller Bourbon

Weller Bourbon: A Trailblazer in Wheated Bourbon

• Innovative Mash Bill: Weller was the first to use wheat as a secondary grain, setting a benchmark for wheated bourbons.
• Flavor Profile: Known for its softer, sweeter flavor compared to bourbons using rye.

The Selection Process for Weller Bourbon

• Expert Reviews: Insights from renowned Bourbon critics were instrumental.
• Taste Testing: Evaluations based on personal experiences with Weller expressions.
• Consumer Feedback: Collecting opinions from bourbon enthusiasts and aficionados.

Weller’s Historical Significance

• Founding: Established in 1849 by W.L. Weller, who brought a unique approach to bourbon-making.
• Legacy: Julian Van Winkle acquired the brand and distillery, enhancing its historical value.
• Authenticity Marker: Weller’s green thumbprint on invoices and barrels symbolized authenticity.

Craftsmanship and Ownership

• Distillery: Produced at the Buffalo Trace Distillery, a renowned site in Kentucky’s bourbon landscape.
• Parent Company: Owned by the Sazerac Company, ensuring consistent quality and heritage preservation.
• Sister Brands: Shares the distillery with other prestigious labels like Blanton’s, Pappy van Winkle, and Eagle Rare.

Weller Bourbon’s legacy as a pioneer in wheated bourbon and its continuous production at Buffalo Trace Distillery under the Sazerac Company underscores its importance in the bourbon world. Its unique flavor profile and historical roots make it a cherished choice among bourbon enthusiasts.

Weller Bourbon: A Trailblazer in Wheated Bourbon

• Innovative Mash Bill: Weller was the first to use wheat as a secondary grain, setting a benchmark for wheated bourbons.
• Flavor Profile: Known for its softer, sweeter flavor compared to bourbons using rye.

Weller’s Historical Significance

• Founding: Established in 1849 by W.L. Weller, who brought a unique approach to bourbon-making.
• Legacy: Julian Van Winkle acquired the brand and distillery, enhancing its historical value.
• Authenticity Marker: Weller’s green thumbprint on invoices and barrels symbolized authenticity.

Craftsmanship and Ownership

• Distillery: Produced at the Buffalo Trace Distillery, a renowned site in Kentucky’s bourbon landscape.
• Parent Company: Owned by the Sazerac Company, ensuring consistent quality and heritage preservation.
• Sister Brands: Shares the distillery with other prestigious labels like Blanton’s, Pappy van Winkle, and Eagle Rare.