Before Pappy Van Winkle. Before W.L. Weller Full Proof. Before any of the Weller expressions that bourbon hunters now chase across the country — there was this bottle. Weller Special Reserve is The Original Wheated Bourbon, the expression that started it all. In 1849, William Larue Weller made history by replacing rye grain with wheat in his bourbon mashbill — creating a softer, sweeter, and rounder spirit that would go on to inspire the most coveted bourbons in American whiskey history. Pappy Van Winkle himself was a salesman for W.L. Weller & Sons before building his legendary brand on the same wheated recipe.
Today, Weller Special Reserve is distilled and bottled at Buffalo Trace Distillery — the world's most award-winning distillery — making it one of the most coveted allocated bourbons in the country. Its reputation as an approachable, smooth, and genuinely excellent wheated bourbon at an accessible proof point has made it nearly impossible to find at retail. Bottled at 90 proof, it delivers the signature Weller character: caramel sweetness, honey, butterscotch, and a smooth honeysuckle finish that is the direct ancestor of some of bourbon's most legendary expressions.
ABV / Proof
| Distillery |
Buffalo Trace Distillery — Frankfort, Kentucky (World's Most Award-Winning) |
| Brand |
W.L. Weller — The Original Wheated Bourbon |
| Type |
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey — Wheated Mashbill |
| Mashbill |
Corn, Wheat, Malted Barley (Wheat replaces Rye) |
| Color |
Burnt Orange — Deep Amber |
| Proof |
90 Proof |
| ABV |
45% |
| Bottle Size |
750ml |
| Awards |
2024 Double Platinum ASCOT · 2024 Gold Global Whisky Challenge · 2024 Gold International Spirits Challenge · 2024 Silver SFWSC · Multiple Gold & Silver 2023 |
| Country |
United States — Kentucky |
Tasting Notes
Color: Burnt orange with deep amber highlights
Nose: Sweet corn, caramel, soft vanilla, light fruit, and toasted oak — gentle and inviting, with none of the sharpness of rye-based bourbons
Palate: Honey, butterscotch, caramel, and mild spice with a creamy, rounded mouthfeel — the wheat delivers a softness that rye simply can't replicate
Finish: Smooth, mellow, and long — lingering vanilla, soft oak, and a signature honeysuckle sweetness that fades gracefully
FAQ
What is the connection between Weller and Pappy Van Winkle?
Julian "Pappy" Van Winkle Sr. began his career as a traveling salesman for W.L. Weller & Sons in the 1890s. He eventually came to own the Stitzel-Weller Distillery and continued producing wheated bourbon using the same mashbill philosophy that W.L. Weller pioneered. Pappy Van Winkle's legendary bourbon uses the same wheated recipe — making Weller Special Reserve the accessible entry point into the exact flavor tradition behind some of the world's most expensive bourbon.
Why is Weller Special Reserve so hard to find?
Weller is produced at Buffalo Trace Distillery, which also makes Eagle Rare, Blanton's, and the Pappy Van Winkle series — all of the most in-demand allocated bourbons in America. Demand for the entire Buffalo Trace portfolio consistently exceeds supply, making Weller Special Reserve difficult to find at retail despite being the "entry-level" expression in the lineup.
How does Weller Special Reserve compare to other Weller expressions?
Weller Special Reserve (90 proof) is the most approachable and widely produced expression. Weller Antique 107 is higher proof and more oak-forward. Weller 12 Year adds more age and complexity. Weller Full Proof is bottled at barrel entry proof. All share the same wheated mashbill and distillery heritage.
Where can I buy Weller Special Reserve online?
Available here at Liquor On Broadway while stock lasts — fast, insured shipping nationwide.
