W.L. Weller Antique 107, known to collectors simply as OWA or Old Weller Antique, is the highest proof expression in the standard Weller lineup and one of the most hunted wheated bourbons in America. Like all Weller bourbons, it is built on the wheated mashbill that William Larue Weller pioneered in the 19th century, substituting wheat for rye as the secondary grain after corn to create a softer, rounder, sweeter spirit. What sets the Antique apart is its strength: bottled at a robust 107 proof, it amplifies the natural sweetness of the wheated recipe and delivers concentrated flavor and depth without the sharp heat you would expect from a high rye bourbon at the same proof. Produced at the legendary Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky, home of allocated icons like Pappy Van Winkle, Blanton's, and Eagle Rare, Weller shares its wheated mashbill with the Van Winkle line, which has earned the Antique its famous nickname, Poor Man's Pappy, and helped fuel extraordinary demand. Carrying no age statement but generally understood to be aged around six to eight years in new charred American oak, it pours a rich honey to deep amber and opens with a nose of caramel, vanilla, dried apricot, and warm baking spice, leading to a full, concentrated palate of toffee, soft wheat grain, ripe red fruit, and gentle oak, before a long, warming finish of caramel and cinnamon. Receiving regular but strictly limited Buffalo Trace distribution, the distinctive red label Antique 107 sells out quickly at retail, making it a genuine trophy for 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 |
Antique 107 (Old Weller Antique / OWA, red 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; highest proof in the standard Weller line |
| ABV |
53.5% |
| Proof |
107 |
| Bottle Size |
750ml |
| Country |
United States |
| Region |
Kentucky |
Tasting Notes
Color: Rich honey to deep amber.
Nose: Caramel, vanilla, dried apricot, and warm baking spice, with floral and red fruit notes amplified by the proof.
Palate: Full and concentrated, with toffee, caramel, soft wheat grain, cherry, orange zest, and gentle oak, with none of the rye heat you would expect at 107 proof.
Finish: Long and warming, with caramel, cinnamon, and persistent spice.
FAQ
What is OWA? OWA stands for Old Weller Antique, the collector nickname for Weller Antique 107. Buffalo Trace dropped the word Old from the label, but many still use it.
Why is it called Poor Man's Pappy? It shares the same wheated mashbill and distillery, Buffalo Trace, as the Pappy Van Winkle line, offering a similar flavor profile at a fraction of the price, though Pappy is much older.
What proof is it? 107 proof, or 53.5 percent ABV, the highest in the standard Weller lineup.
How old is it? It carries no age statement but is generally believed to be aged around six to eight years.
Why is it hard to find? It receives limited Buffalo Trace allocation against very high demand, so it sells out quickly at retail despite an accessible MSRP.
Where can I buy Weller Antique 107 online? Available here at Liquor On Broadway while stock lasts, with fast insured shipping nationwide.
