W.L. Weller Special Reserve is the original wheated bourbon and the gateway to one of the most coveted lineups in all of American whiskey. The story begins in 1849, when William Larue Weller made history by replacing the traditional rye grain with wheat in his bourbon mashbill, creating a softer, sweeter, rounder spirit that would go on to inspire some of the most legendary bourbons ever made. Fittingly, a young Julian Pappy Van Winkle worked as a salesman for W.L. Weller & Sons before building his own legendary brand on the very same wheated recipe philosophy. Today, Weller Special Reserve is distilled and bottled at the Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky, the world's most award winning distillery and the home of allocated icons like Pappy Van Winkle, Blanton's, and Eagle Rare. Bottled at 90 proof, the green label Special Reserve is the entry point to the Weller range, using the famous Buffalo Trace wheated mashbill, widely understood to be roughly 70 percent corn, 16 percent wheat, and 14 percent malted barley, and aged an estimated six to eight years in new charred oak. The wheat forward recipe is what sets it apart from the rye heavy majority of Kentucky bourbons, lending the signature soft, mellow, easy drinking character the Weller name is known for. It pours a beautiful burnt orange and leads with a sweet nose of caramel, vanilla, and honey, opening into a gentle palate of butterscotch, brown sugar, soft oak, and light fruit, before a delicate honeysuckle tinged finish. Because demand for anything bearing the Weller name now far outstrips supply, this approachable, accessible wheated bourbon has become genuinely difficult to find at retail, making it a prized addition to any bourbon shelf.
ABV / Proof
| Brand |
W.L. Weller |
| Distillery |
Buffalo Trace Distillery, Frankfort, Kentucky |
| Producer |
Sazerac Company |
| Category |
Kentucky Straight Wheated Bourbon Whiskey |
| Expression |
Special Reserve (green label) |
| Age Statement |
No age statement (estimated 6 to 8 years) |
| Mashbill |
Wheated; widely cited as approximately 70% corn, 16% wheat, 14% malted barley (not officially disclosed) |
| Maturation |
Aged in new charred American oak |
| Bottling |
The Original Wheated Bourbon; entry expression in the Weller line |
| ABV |
45% |
| Proof |
90 |
| Bottle Size |
750ml |
| Country |
United States |
| Region |
Kentucky |
Tasting Notes
Color: Burnt orange to medium copper.
Nose: Sweet and light, with caramel, vanilla, honey, and brown sugar over a touch of oak.
Palate: Soft and mellow, with honey, butterscotch, vanilla, light fruit, and gentle oak; smooth from the wheated mashbill.
Finish: Delicate and smooth, with lingering honeysuckle and caramel.
FAQ
What makes Weller a wheated bourbon? It uses wheat instead of rye as the secondary grain, which gives it a softer, sweeter, rounder profile than most Kentucky bourbons.
Who makes it? It is produced at the Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky, owned by the Sazerac Company.
Is it related to Pappy Van Winkle? Yes. Weller and Pappy Van Winkle share the same wheated recipe tradition, so Special Reserve is often called the accessible entry point into that flavor profile.
What proof is it? 90 proof, or 45 percent ABV.
Why is it so hard to find? Demand for the entire Buffalo Trace and Weller portfolio far exceeds supply, so even this entry expression is heavily allocated at retail.
Where can I buy Weller Special Reserve online? Available here at Liquor On Broadway while stock lasts, with fast insured shipping nationwide.
