W.L. Weller Special Reserve is the original wheated bourbon and the foundation of Buffalo Trace's hugely sought after Weller lineup. This is an older bottle, an earlier label presentation of Special Reserve, prized by collectors who appreciate vintage packaging. The brand carries the name of William Larue Weller, the 19th century Louisville whiskey man credited with pioneering the wheated bourbon style, substituting soft winter wheat for the rye used in most bourbons to create a softer, sweeter, smoother spirit. Today it is produced at the legendary Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky, using the same coveted wheated mashbill that underpins the entire Weller range and shares its lineage with some of the most famous wheated bourbons ever made. Aged around seven years in new charred oak in historic Kentucky rickhouses and bottled at an easy going 90 proof, Special Reserve is designed to be gentle, approachable, and endlessly drinkable, the perfect entry point into wheated bourbon. Expect a beautiful burnt orange color and a sweet nose of caramel, honey, and vanilla, a soft, delicate palate of honey, butterscotch, vanilla, light fruit, and a touch of oak, and a smooth, calm finish with a sweet honeysuckle flair. Demand for anything bearing the Weller name has soared in recent years, making this once humble everyday pour increasingly hard to find, and older bottles like this one especially desirable. Smooth enough for newcomers yet beloved by seasoned enthusiasts, it is wonderful neat, over a large cube, or as the sweet, wheated heart of an exceptional Old Fashioned. As with any older bottle, condition, fill level, and seal vary; please see photos. A genuine piece of bourbon heritage and a prize for any wheated bourbon fan.
ABV / Proof
| Distillery |
Buffalo Trace Distillery, Frankfort, Kentucky |
| Producer |
Sazerac Company |
| Category |
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (wheated) |
| Expression |
W.L. Weller Special Reserve (Old Bottle) |
| Mashbill |
Buffalo Trace wheated mashbill (no rye; estimated ~70% Corn, 16% Wheat, 14% Malted Barley) |
| Age |
No Age Statement (approximately 7 years) |
| Maturation |
New Charred Oak |
| ABV |
45% |
| Proof |
90 |
| Bottle Size |
750ml |
| Country |
United States |
Tasting Notes
Color: Burnt orange.
Nose: Sweet caramel, honey, and vanilla.
Palate: Soft and delicate, with honey, butterscotch, vanilla, light fruit, and a touch of oak.
Finish: Smooth and calm, with a sweet honeysuckle flair.
FAQ
What does "old bottle" mean here? This is an earlier label presentation of Weller Special Reserve rather than the current packaging. The liquid is the same classic wheated bourbon, but the older bottle is of added interest to collectors. As with any older bottle, condition, fill level, and seal vary, so please review the photos.
What makes Weller Special Reserve special? It is the original wheated bourbon and the entry point to Buffalo Trace's Weller lineup, using wheat instead of rye for a softer, sweeter, smoother profile.
What proof is it? It is bottled at 90 proof, or 45 percent ABV.
What is a wheated bourbon? A wheated bourbon uses wheat as the secondary grain instead of rye, producing a gentler, sweeter character. Weller shares this wheated approach with other famous wheated bourbons from the same distillery.
Why is it hard to find? Demand for all Weller products has risen dramatically, so although its suggested retail price is modest, it is heavily allocated and frequently sells out. Older bottles are especially sought after.
How should I drink it? Its smooth, sweet, lower proof profile makes it excellent neat, over a large cube, or in an Old Fashioned.
Where can I buy W.L. Weller Special Reserve online? Available here at Liquor On Broadway while stock lasts, with fast insured shipping nationwide.
