Day 4 of DB's Bourbon Trail 2024 Advent Calendar - Weller Special Reserve

Derek Burkhard
Oct 27, 2024
3 min read

Updated: Sep 11

Cheers and welcome to our 5th Annual Advent Calendar!

This month, we’re embarking on a high-end bourbon journey, reviewing 25 bourbons from award-winning distilleries across the United States. From December 1st to December 25th, we’ll explore everything from small batches to single barrels, all packed with flavor. Join us in toasting to another incredible year as we share some of our favorite bottles with you!

Our reviews are done using a Glencairn glass and neat, but remember, it’s your bourbon! Enjoy it however you like—over ice, with water, or in a cocktail. The key is to enjoy it your way and not let others influence your experience.

Enough of me rambling. Now, let’s dive into what brought us here!

Day 4 of DB’s Bourbon Trail 2024 Advent Calendar

WELLER SPECIAL RESERVE

Proof:

90 Proof (45%)

Distillery:

Buffalo Trace Distillery (Frankfort, KY)

Message on the bottle:

"W.L. Weller was born in Kentucky in the year 1825 . After serving with the Louisville Brigade in the 1840s, Weller returned to Louisville to open his wholesale liquor business. He is reported to have used the slogan "Honest whiskey at an honest price." His wheated recipe bourbon had a softer, smoother taste that became very popular. Pappy Van Winkle eventually merged Weller's namesake company with the A. PH. Stitzel Distillery to form the Stitzel-Weller Distillery. This delicate bourbon with hints of caramel and honey honors one of America's first Whiskey Pioneers."

Price Point:

At DB’s Bourbon Trail, we use BoozApp (not sponsored) to ensure fair pricing on our bourbon purchases. Nothing is worse than overpaying due to supply and demand games.
- Average MSRP:
  - $25.05
- Fair Price:
  - $58.97
- Shelf Price:
  - $64.99
- DB’s Bourbon Trail Instant Buy Price:
  - <$34.99

Review:

If you all have been following along for a while now, you will know that I love me some Weller and wheated bourbons! This specific bottle plays a major part in my bourbon journey and one of the first bottles that I really, really hunted. Living in SC, Weller is pretty much impossible to come by unless you are at the right place, at the right time. Special Reserve is the easier one to find in its lineup, but it is normally priced out of the wazoo if it is just sitting on the shelf. Anyway, this was the first wheated bourbon that I ever tried, and still is one of my favorites to this day. I am super pumped that I am able to share this one with you!

On the label, it reads "The Original Wheated Bourbon." I wanted to learn a little more about that, so off to Buffalo Trace's website we go!

The Original Wheated Bourbon Whiskey features an exceptionally smooth taste, 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.

Neat! Now onto the good stuff and the tasting notes!

Nose:

The nose of this pour has an incredible burst of caramel. It is soft and inviting, making it a smooth and gentle experience from the start. From the first time to now, I still can't wait to dive into this pour!

Palate:

The caramel rolls right from the nose into the palate with a really nice sweetness to it. As the palate begins to expand there are additional sweet notes resembling butterscotch and honey.

Finish:

The finish is medium in length and satisfying. For a 90 proof bourbon, you wouldn't expect there to be hardly any bite, but this one runs on the sweeter side leaving a lingering impression of honey, caramel, and delicate floral notes. It's a sweeter blend that makes this bourbon a perfect hoice for any occasion!

Final Thoughts:

For me, Weller Special Reserve has always been a perfect little caramel treat, enjoyable from the first sip to the last. If you manage to find it at its MSRP, it's a bargain compared to Buffalo Trace and many other bottles. While it may not be the most complex pour I've ever had, it's hard to beat when you consider both budget and taste. As a fan of wheated bourbons, this one has never disappointed me. Weller Special Reserve is incredibly easy to drink, whether neat, on the rocks, or in a cocktail. Its sweet profile truly stands out, and I'll always grab a bottle if the price is right.

P.S. Just incase you didn't believe me that I really enjoy Weller - I named my dog after it!

Cheers y’all! 🥃

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