Buffalo Trace Distillery releases Weller 12 Year to honor William Larue Weller, an early Kentucky distiller who swapped rye for wheat and changed bourbon history. The mash bill mirrors the one behind Pappy Van Winkle, but Weller bottles the whiskey at 90 proof after a full dozen years in rickhouses. Wheat in place of rye yields a softer grain profile and helps the spirit absorb oak sweetness during its long rest. Collectors call it the poor man’s Pappy, yet it was designed for everyday sipping before hype and scarcity arrived.
Aroma Highlights
Pour a glass and gentle legs coat the side, hinting at body without syrupy thickness. Lift it to the nose and caramel leaps forward, followed by vanilla custard, honeyed wheat, and a medley of orchard fruit. Apple peel, cherry syrup, and plum jam build next to brown sugar crumble. A faint wave of toasted oak keeps everything grounded. Secondary whiffs reveal clove, orange zest, maple candy, and a whisper of pipe tobacco. The nose walks a fine line between dessert sweetness and elegant maturity, never turning boozy or harsh despite its extended age.
Flavor On The Palate
The first sip confirms why fans guard every bottle. Vanilla cream spreads across the tongue, chased by caramel drizzle, cinnamon dust, and red berry compote. The wheat mash softens any rough spice, allowing a silkier mouthfeel than many rye bourbons of similar proof. Mid-palate notes of dark chocolate, ripe plum, and honey graham cracker unfold. Oak warmth sits in the background rather than dominating, leaving space for bakery flavors that feel like pie crust dipped in brown sugar syrup. Proof level remains approachable, so the pour stays smooth even for newcomers.
Finish And Mouthfeel
A medium finish emerges with slow warmth, offering sweet fruit, mild cinnamon, and polished oak. Brown sugar and orange peel linger longest before fading into faint tobacco and soft leather. No bitter charcoal or tannic bite distracts. Mouthfeel is creamy yet light enough that a second pour never feels heavy. While seasoned drinkers sometimes wish for a higher proof punch, the balance at 45 percent ABV fits the whiskey’s gentle personality.
Collectibility And Pricing
Weller 12 Year once sat on shelves for about sixty dollars. Today its limited allocation and connection to the Van Winkle line push secondary prices well into triple digits. At the recommended retail price, the bourbon competes with Knob Creek 12 Year, Four Roses Single Barrel, and Elijah Craig Barrel Proof on value and complexity. When asked to pay two hundred dollars or more, smart shoppers may pivot to those alternatives. Weller 12 won Silver Outstanding at the 2015 International Wine & Spirits Competition, cementing its quality, but scarcity now drives most of the buzz.
Who Will Enjoy It
Fans of wheated bourbon such as Maker’s Mark, Weller Antique, or Van Winkle will find a familiar flavor arc. Drinkers who prefer lower proof sippers with layered sweetness over spicy heat should also place Weller 12 high on a wish list. Beginners appreciate how easy the bourbon enters the palate, while veterans respect its mature oak integration and fruit complexity. Those seeking barrel strength fireworks might feel underwhelmed, yet the whiskey shines when slow appreciation is the goal, not raw power.
Buying Tips
Check local lotteries, controlled state releases, and reputable small stores that allocate bottles to loyalty programs. Refuse inflated price tags unless the bottle is a bucket-list acquisition. Online forums often recommend splitting cost among friends for a shared tasting instead of laying out secondary market cash solo. Another route is tracking store picks of Weller Special Reserve or Antique that deliver similar profiles at friendlier prices.
Serving Suggestions
Enjoy Weller 12 neat in a Glencairn to concentrate its fruit and vanilla bouquet. A drop of water will open mild tobacco and chocolate nuances. If you must chill, use a large single cube to avoid dilution. The bourbon also shines in a wheated Old Fashioned: two ounces Weller 12, quarter ounce demerara syrup, two dashes Angostura, and a thin orange peel. Stirred slowly, this cocktail accentuates honeyed wheat while oak anchors the sweetness.
Pros And Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Luxurious honey, vanilla, fruit, and oak balance | Feels light compared to cask-strength bottles |
| Twelve years of aging adds depth without bitterness | Scarce at retail, overpriced on secondary |
| Award winning and historically significant | Lower proof may lack punch for some palates |
| Smooth enough for newcomers yet layered for connoisseurs | Less complex than older age or barrel pick variants |
Final Word
Weller 12 Year shows exactly why wheated bourbon earned its loyal following. It wraps dessert flavors, ripe fruit, gentle spice, and refined oak in a silky package that almost everyone enjoys. At retail it is a must-buy, offering mature character at a moderate price. When shelves are bare and markups loom, other bourbons can scratch the same itch. Still, if you secure a bottle near MSRP, pour a dram and taste why this Kentucky classic remains one of the most coveted twelve-year bourbons on earth.
