Last Updated on: 11th April 2024, 04:21 pm
J Highland
J Highland is a certified sommelier with 30 years in the liquor industry, owning a pub, a liquor store, and moonlighting as a spirits distiller.
Discover the differences between Blanton’s Single Barrel vs Weller Special Reserve in this head-to-head comparison and decide which Bourbon is better for You!
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.
Written by: J Highland
Blanton’s Single Barrel vs Weller Special Reserve: Comparison
Blanton’s Single Barrel: A distinguished bourbon that offers a creamy profile of vanilla, honey, and baking spice, with a long finish of honey and caramel. At 93 proof, it’s perfectly balanced for a luxurious sip, priced at $120. Ideal for those seeking a premium, smooth bourbon experience.
Weller Special Reserve: This wheated bourbon brings a soft and sweet palate of caramel, vanilla, and chocolate, ending with a warming finish. With a 90-proof level, it’s accessible and enjoyable for $60, making it a great choice for everyday indulgence or easy sipping.
Verdict: Blanton’s offers a traditional bourbon experience with a spicy kick, while Weller provides a smoother, wheated profile. The choice between them hinges on preference for taste and texture: Blanton’s for a classic, refined sip and Weller for a gentler, wheated smoothness, states whiskey expert Neil Coleman.
Both bourbons exemplify quality, but Blanton’s stands out for those willing to invest in an exceptional sip, whereas Weller represents value and smoothness in a wheated bourbon.
Related: Best Alternatives to Blanton’s
Blanton’s Single Barrel: A Smooth and Balanced Bourbon for Everyday Luxury
- Nose: Vanilla, caramel, oak, old leather
- Palate: Creamy vanilla, honeyed, baking spice, oak
- Finish: Long, honey, brown sugar, caramel
- Alcohol content: 93 proof (46.5% ABV)
- How to drink: Add water
- Similar to: Garrison Brothers
Aromatic Delight:
Blanton’s Single Barrel greets you with a rich and inviting aroma of honey and caramel, complemented by a subtle touch of old leather and oak.
Creamy & Flavorful:
The taste offers a classic bourbon profile with a pronounced presence of butterscotch, vanilla, and a moderate rye spice. It stands out for its richer and creamier mouthfeel compared to many bourbons. Blanton’s Single Barrel boasts exceptional smoothness, balancing sweetness and oak for a complex and intriguing experience.
Long & Rewarding Finish:
The finish is long, sweet, and pleasantly warm, with a subtle medicinal hint emerging late in the tasting.
Living Up to the Hype:
Blanton’s delivers on its reputation, offering an impeccably smooth and well-balanced bourbon with a creamy body. It provides a highly enjoyable sipping experience at a reasonable price point, making it a great choice for everyday luxury.
Enjoyment Tips:
Blanton’s Single Barrel is best savored neat, allowing its full flavor profile to shine. Adding water or ice is not necessary.
Blanton’s Single Barrel: Unveiling the Story
- Higher Rye Content: The mash bill features a higher rye grain percentage compared to other Buffalo Trace bourbons, contributing to the spice character.
- Warehouse H Magic: Aged in barrels specifically chosen from warehouse H, a location discovered by Colonel Blanton for its ideal aging conditions.
- Undisclosed Age: While the exact age is unknown, it’s estimated to be between 6 and 8 years.
- Award-Winning: Recognized with a Double Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition and lauded as “liquid gold” in Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible.
- Highly Rated: Awarded the Chairman’s Trophy as the world’s best bourbon at the Ultimate Spirits Challenge, showcasing its exceptional quality.
Experience the smooth luxury of Blanton’s Single Barrel. Its complexity and affordability make it a top contender for your everyday bourbon indulgence.
Weller Special Reserve: A Smooth Wheated Bourbon 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
- Similar to: Old Elk
Sweet & Smooth Aroma:
Weller Special Reserve greets you with a smooth and inviting aroma, primarily sweet with notes of maple honey, ripe apples, and a touch of old leather and oak.
Balanced Palate:
The taste offers a balanced interplay of sweetness and spice. You’ll find initial flavors of caramel, vanilla, and cinnamon, followed by dark chocolate and a hint of citrus.
Warming Finish:
The finish is warming yet pleasant, with a somewhat dry character and lingering notes of old leather, spicy cinnamon candy, and oak spice.
Enjoyment Tips:
Weller Special Reserve is known for its smoothness and can be enjoyed neat with minimal burn. Adding a drop of water can enhance the sweetness and bring out oak flavors for a slightly different experience.
A Satisfying Wheated Choice:
This wheated bourbon delivers the expected smoothness and sweetness, characteristic of the style. While it might feel a bit thin on the palate, it remains an overall satisfying pour.
Weller Special Reserve: Unveiling the Story
- Wheated Bourbon: Made with wheat as the secondary grain, contributing to the smooth and sweet profile.
- Pioneering Legacy: Established in 1849, Weller was the first to incorporate wheat into the bourbon mash bill.
- Undisclosed Mash Bill: The exact wheat percentage remains a secret, but it’s estimated to be around 15%.
- Aged for Quality: Aged for between 4 and 7 years, allowing the bourbon to develop its character.
- Award-Winning: Recognized with a Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, showcasing its quality.
Looking for a smooth and easy-sipping wheated bourbon? Weller Special Reserve might be your perfect match.
What’s the difference between Blanton’s and Weller?
Blanton’s is crafted using a traditional mash bill consisting of corn, rye, and malted barley.
In contrast, Weller is made from a mash bill that includes corn, wheat, and malted barley.
Buffalo Trace has not publicly disclosed the specific percentages of grains used in their mash bill, keeping that information undisclosed.
Price comparison
Prices are approximate and stated in USD:
| Bourbon | Price |
| Blanton’s Single Barrel | $120 |
| Weller Special Reserve | $60 |