W.L. Weller Special Reserve

W.L. Weller Special Reserve is a wheated bourbon originally created by the Stitzel-Weller Distilling Company. The brand is named after William Larue Weller, a distiller who is credited by some as being the first to use wheat as the secondary grain in straight bourbon as opposed to the more commonly used rye [3].

Description

W.L. Weller Special Reserve is a Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey made from a wheated mashbill, substituting wheat for rye grain. Bottled at 90 proof, this bourbon stands out with its burnt orange color. Its softer flavor notes make this bourbon great for sipping or making cocktails [5].

Tasting Notes

Weller Special Reserve kicks it off with honey sweetness and floral citrus, apple, strawberry, vanilla, a thin layer of toasted oak, hay, and cinnamon. Having recently done my Old Fitzgerald 15 Year vs Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year comparison, Weller Special Reserve’s floral sweetness and fruitiness remind me a little of the Van Winkle Lot B [2].

And while I wouldn’t quite characterize the Weller Special Reserve as having a light nose, it definitely leans towards being delicate and gentle. As pleasant and inoffensive as it usually is, I’m actually most surprised at the heat, which comes in a little hot at times. Then again, the lighter scents may not be doing enough to suppress the heat [2].

Swirling brings out more floral honey, vanilla, canned peaches with cinnamon, and oak. While it’s not that oaky, it does provide this background toasted note that hints at a deeper darkness and mustiness, but definitely gives off a lot of cinnamon [2].

The heat pokes my nostrils early on, but fades away as I continue to sniff. I’ll repeat this again as it comes to mind – Weller Special Reserve has a gentle and floral nose that still reminds me of a less fragrant Van Winkle 12 Year, which is a compliment [2].

Overall though, the nose is nice and pleasant enough, but not special in any way. Then again, this is supposed to be a $20-25 bourbon, and it does the job well enough for that [2].

Details

• ABV: 45%
• Age: Not disclosed, but believed to be around 7-8 years old [3]
• Mashbill: Buffalo Trace wheated mash, speculated to be 70% corn, 16% wheat and 14% malted barley [2]
• Proof: 90 Proof
• Size: 750ml
• Origin: Kentucky
• Distillery: Buffalo Trace Distillery
• Includes Box: Yes

Purchase Information

• Original price: $20-25
• Current price: Varies by retailer
• Available at select liquor stores and online retailers.