At present would’ve been William Larue Weller’s two hundredth birthday, and Buffalo Hint is celebrating it with two new additions to the Weller whiskey lineup.
First, let’s again up. The Weller lineup is among the most coveted lineups within the bourbon world for one easy purpose: They’re rattling good. The longstanding core of Weller Particular Reserve, Weller Vintage, and Weller 12 has ballooned to incorporate a bevy of latest releases bearing William Larue’s final identify. To get you up to the mark, Weller C.Y.P.B. debuted in 2018, Weller Full Proof was added in 2019, and 2020 —the 12 months that shall not be named— welcomed Weller Single Barrel into the fold. Since then, they’ve been joined by Daniel Weller (2023) and Weller Millennium (2024).
Now the Weller lineup has two new expressions becoming a member of its ranks: the second batch of Weller Millennium and the all-new Weller 18.
Weller Millennium is one we lined final 12 months, however this new batch includes a recent mix of parts that have been distilled at Buffalo Hint Distillery in 2001 (2.9%), 2003 (46.5%), and 2006 (50.6%). Weller Millennium deux, just like the inaugural batch, is notably a mix that features each wheated bourbon, the lineup’s bread and butter, in addition to wheat whiskey, which is a spirit that made its debut within the lineup with this expression final 12 months. Eagle-eyed observers will discern the variations between batches 1 and a couple of due to an up to date label that now includes a gold-plated information card versus final 12 months’s white label.
Weller 18 is the lineup’s oldest ever age-stated product and marks the primary time a full-on wheat whiskey joins the occasion. This hyper-aged expression is housed in an identical bottle to Weller Millennium, albeit with out the flowery field, and shall be obtainable through World Journey Retail at airports together with Los Angeles Worldwide (LAX), John F. Kennedy Worldwide (JFK), and London Heathrow (LHR). That is notable as a result of it will likely be the primary travel-exclusive bottle ever launched by Buffalo Hint, and as such, it’s going to come within the 700ml bottle measurement.
I used to be among the many first on the earth to strive each of those brand-new expressions once I received a style of them late final month, and now that they’re formally hitting the market, it’s the proper time not simply to assessment them, however to assessment them alongside each different member of the Weller household.
So let’s dive proper into our full assessment of all the Weller lineup, now up to date with two brand-new whiskeys!
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11. Weller Particular Reserve
ABV: 45%
Common Value: $32
The Whiskey:
Weller Particular Reserve is the entry-level providing within the extremely sought-after Weller lineup. Like all others within the Weller lineup, Weller Particular Reserve showcases Buffalo Hint’s wheated mash invoice.
Tasting Notes:
Nostril: The nostril is effusive with honeysuckle and corn-laden sweetness for a mellow and welcoming preliminary pop of aroma. Nevertheless, there isn’t a lot beneath these notes on the nostril, with solely a mild vanilla aroma and a barely synthetic floral facet coming by on return visits.
Palate: That floral facet, which was relegated to being a background participant on the nostril, comes by with gusto on the palate whereas clover honey and faint vanilla notes do their finest to deal with it from the sidelines. The flavors are speciously wealthy, however the whiskey’s skinny texture prevents them from coming wherever near their full potential.
End: The end is the place this bourbon positive factors just a few additional factors, because the flavors of honeysuckle and vanilla handle to outlive the watery mouthfeel and cling to the again of the palate for a satisfying send-off.
Backside Line:
Weller Particular Reserve has by no means been my cup of tea, whilst a last-ditch alternative for the genuinely outstanding Weller Vintage. That mentioned, if you happen to squint, there’s simply sufficient taste in each sip to offer you glimpses of simply how good Buffalo Hint’s wheated bourbon mash invoice could be with extra ageing, greater proof, and selective mixing. Because the least-impressive wheated bourbon on provide from the model, Weller Particular Reserve is a reliably common sipper.
10. Daniel Weller
ABV: 47%
Common Value: $3,000
The Whiskey:
Daniel Weller, one of many newer additions to the Weller lineup, debuted in 2023. This expression is exclusive as a result of it incorporates a completely new grain, Emmer wheat, an historic Egyptian grain, in its mash invoice — one thing that no different Weller product makes use of.
Tasting Notes:
Nostril: The nostril comes throughout as considerably grain-forward, with wheat toast aromas emanating from the glass, together with a pleasing strawberry jam observe coupling up with natural tea, nutmeg, and burnt caramel.
Palate: On the palate, Daniel Weller begins a bit grain ahead earlier than changing into delightfully candy, with fruit bursting. It’s additionally surprisingly full of life, with the strawberry jam from the nostril changing into extra like a plum on the palate and welcoming the addition of some faint citrus notes with a quotidian mouthfeel.
End: The end is surprisingly drying regardless of the liveliness of the liquid on the palate, nevertheless it additionally has a average size which begs for repeat sips.
Backside Line:
Daniel Weller was initially launched with a lot fanfare and intrigue, however now, just a few years faraway from its launch, it has change into an afterthought, with Weller Millennium changing it on the high of the Weller pyramid. Regardless of that, Daniel Weller remains to be a wonderfully tremendous bourbon, and one which I had hoped to see return in 2025. Nevertheless, given its extraordinarily restricted bottle rely (and the trouble it will take to safe one), I wouldn’t recommend breaking your again or your financial institution to offer it a strive.
9. Weller 18
ABV: 45%
Common Value: $500
The Whiskey:
Weller 18 is the lineup’s oldest ever age-stated product and marks the primary time a full-on wheat whiskey joins the occasion. This hyper-aged expression is housed in an identical bottle to Weller Millennium, albeit with out the flowery field, and shall be obtainable through World Journey Retail at airports together with Los Angeles Worldwide (LAX), John F. Kennedy Worldwide (JFK), and London Heathrow (LHR). That is notable as a result of it will likely be the primary travel-exclusive bottle ever launched by Buffalo Hint, and as such, it’s going to come within the 700ml bottle measurement.
Tasting Notes:
Nostril: The nostril on this whiskey opens with recent hazelnuts and cherry cordials for a pleasing introduction that attracts you deeper into the glass. From there, one can decide up components of eucalyptus, peanut brittle, and faint clove notes, with dates, tootsie rolls, vanilla, and brown sugar gently blossoming within the background.
Palate: As soon as within the mouth, the flavors of dates, clove, and peanut brittle cleared the path. As soon as your palate turns into acclimated to this refined sipper, the flavors of nougat, brown sugar, and hazelnuts actually begin to shine. The distinct taste of “wheat funk” gently drums within the background of every sip. The feel is clean and chic, albeit a bit austere all through.
End: The medium-length end on Weller 18 is heavy on peppercorn, vanilla bean, and wheat toast notes with a bit drop of honey sweetness to spherical all of it out.
Backside Line:
Weller 18 is de facto fascinating. That’s to not say that it’s mind-blowing or a must-try, as I discovered much less well-rounded choices within the lineup to be extra dynamic. That mentioned, this one is distinctly completely different from the remainder due to its wheat whiskey heritage and a taste profile that elegantly reveals that class’s best qualities.
It’s more likely to be bourbon followers who most passionately search this one out, and to them I say be forewarned. Wheat whiskey is a distinctly completely different animal, with a noticeably extra restrained mouthfeel and average complexity. If neither of these notices offers you pause, you then’re undoubtedly going to like this one.
8. Weller Single Barrel
ABV: 48.5%
Common Value: $700
The Whiskey:
In relation to bottles that sport Weller’s immediately recognizable coloured label, Weller Single Barrel is probably the most lately launched member of the extraordinarily allotted core lineup. This expression is the one purely single-barrel wheated bourbon in Buffalo Hint’s total portfolio.
Tasting Notes:
Nostril: Crisp purple apples give approach to a barely savory barbeque sauce observe with a little bit of honey, vanilla, and oak on high.
Palate: On the palate, there’s the acquainted steadiness of purple apples and purple berries that Weller is thought for, however the fruit notes are extra nondescript. There’s a average little bit of nuance, however total, it is a nice and simple bourbon marked by juicy orange notes taking part in off of the purple berries and modest oak tones, melding nicely with vanilla ice cream flavors with a reasonably viscous mouthfeel.
End: The end finds caramel sweetness masking the crisp purple apples from the palate and a rising oak prominence becoming a member of black pepper spice to steadiness these sweeter notes.
Backside Line:
Typical of single-barrel bourbons, each shall be completely different, however Weller Single Barrel delivers a reasonably full-bodied and nuanced sipping expertise regardless of clocking in at a reasonably low proof. Whereas it doesn’t do sufficient to distinguish itself considerably from the remainder of the lineup (significantly when one considers the truth that Weller Vintage is obtainable in single barrel format), that doesn’t detract from the truth that it’s a rock-solid wheated bourbon.
7. Weller Full Proof
ABV: 57%
Common Value: $250
The Whiskey:
Weller Full Proof was formally launched in June 2019. This expression known as “Full Proof” as a result of it isn’t bottled at cask power however blended and bottled on the ABV level the liquid entered the barrel, which is 114 proof.
Tasting Notes:
Nostril: The nostril of Weller Full Proof options a number of the model’s hallmark cherry notes but in addition a little bit of Tobasco, sticky toffee, and inexperienced tomatoes to go together with a contact of caramel sweetness.
Palate: When tasting Weller Full Proof, these disparate and well-developed flavors from the nostril hit you abruptly, with inexperienced tomatoes and a few cayenne pepper coming throughout the palate in lockstep with brown sugar sweetness, toffee, and black cherry pie notes. The feel is powerful however a bit prickly, because the ABV could be felt alongside the perimeters of the tongue, forming a hoop across the sweeter and extra savory notes on the tip of the tongue and midpalate.
End: The end is prolonged, albeit a bit drying, and that permits loads of house for the density of these flavors to disclose themselves because the alcohol blows off and your palate turns into acclimated to its brash texture.
Backside Line:
Weller Full Proof is a bit imbalanced, however total, it lives as much as its identify in that it’s filled with taste. That lack of steadiness, with assertiveness and absence on the palate coming in suits and begins, makes for a barely disjointed sipping expertise, however one which shall be a flavorful problem for high-proof lovers on the lookout for a rocky journey with atypical sights to see concerning Weller’s extra mellow profile.
6. Weller 12-Yr
ABV: 45%
Common Value: $280
The Whiskey:
Weller 12 is one in all solely two age-stated wheated bourbons in Buffalo Hint’s Weller lineup. The favored expression first debuted in 2001.
Tasting Notes:
Nostril: Weller 12 boasts an intriguing aroma bouquet of brown sugar, honeyed black tea, and hazelnut unfold, complemented by notes of clove cigarettes and delicate oak tones.
Palate: On the palate is the place Weller 12 turns into value savoring, as its wealthy taste notes discover a approach to prevail regardless of its comparatively skinny texture. Search for all the notes from the nostril to return to the palate with brown sugar, clove, and tobacco leaf, claiming the reins earlier than ceding management to hazelnut unfold, maple sweet, oak, and black tea earlier than the transition to the end.
End: The end of Weller 12 is the place the oak is dialed up a notch, drying the mouth a bit and curbing the event of a few of these wealthy flavors. Nonetheless, earlier than it peters out, every pour leaves loads of house to understand the depth of these earthy and darkly candy flavors.
Backside Line:
Weller 12 is each pleasant and irritating in that it shows an important depth of taste, some promising potential, and a forestalled end. It’s impressively wealthy, given the proof it’s bottled at, and deftly exhibits off what maturity can deliver to a well-made bourbon. Nevertheless, with a bit extra oomph within the proof division and barely extra runway on the again finish, it’s straightforward to see this bourbon being much more superior.
5. Weller C.Y.P.B.
ABV: 47.5%
Common Value: $300
The Whiskey:
Weller C.Y.P.B., which is shorthand for “Select Your Excellent Bourbon,” was first launched in 2018. Previous to its launch, Buffalo Hint had an interactive characteristic on its web site that inspired shoppers to enter their excellent situations for bourbon, together with age, mash invoice, and rickhouse location, as choices. The model has acknowledged that this bourbon was created to mirror the positioning guests’ hottest enter selections.
Enjoyable truth: The web site nonetheless options the identical customization instrument to today, and model representatives famous that they proceed to assemble knowledge from followers, which has helped form new releases, reminiscent of these seen within the 1792 portfolio.
Tasting Notes:
Nostril: The nostril on CYPB is stuffed with white chocolate, vanilla, and Rainier cherries with some accenting notes of milk chocolate, allspice, and nougat.
Palate: On the palate is the place these Rainier cherries and the white chocolate from the nostril come out in full power, however these notes are additionally joined by some black pepper, honey, and vanilla cone. General, the feel is powerful, and the flavors themselves are extremely refined and dialed in.
End: The end is simply barely medium size, however due to the depth of the flavors, you’re solely left wanting a bit extra size however much more sips.
Backside Line:
Whereas it isn’t fairly the excellent bourbon, Weller C.Y.P.B. is really a very high-quality illustration of the Weller lineup. It’s as crowd-pleasing nearly as good previous Weller Vintage, however with a bit much less nuance and fewer tough edges.
4. Weller Vintage 107-Proof Bourbon
ABV: 53.5%
Common Value: $59
The Whiskey:
Previous Weller Vintage, or Weller 107 because it’s generally referred to as, is the second expression in Buffalo Hint’s Weller lineup. With an estimated age vary of about seven years, it shares a grain recipe, warehouse location, and proof level with Previous Rip Van Winkle.
Tasting Notes:
Nostril: The nostril on Previous Weller Vintage is befitting of its packaging as candied purple apples and honey mix with mushy pastry notes, a contact of honey, allspice, and butterscotch.
Palate: On the palate, these candied apple notes obtain a formidable depth, virtually mimicking the flavour of apple cider as waves of caramel, mellow oak, and milk chocolate come crashing in. The well-balanced whiskey is aided by a viscous mouthfeel underlined by a prickly infusion of ethanol, black pepper, and tart apple cider vinegar.
End: For its closing phrase, Weller Vintage presents a brisker observe of stone fruit and Rainier cherries, dipped in milk chocolate and shutting with vanilla ice cream. The end is medium-length however substantive, permitting sufficient house for every taste observe to have its say earlier than tapering away.
Backside Line:
Good previous Weller Vintage is extremely wanted for current beneath the halo of its large brother from the Buffalo Hint Vintage lineup and for being the most effective available choice within the core group as soon as upon a time. Honestly, this is perhaps probably the most versatile and underrated whiskey within the Weller portfolio, regardless of having change into simply as laborious to search out as the remainder of them. It stays an unbelievable mid-shelf bourbon able to besting far costlier wheated bourbons in blind tastings — offered you’ll find it at an affordable worth.
3. Weller Millennium Batch #1 (2024)
ABV: 49.5%
Common Value: $7,500
The Whiskey:
This mix of wheat whiskey and wheated bourbon marks the primary time the Weller lineup has showcased a wheat whiskey. It’s a mix of straight bourbon and wheat whiskeys distilled in 2000 (3%), 2003 (50%), 2005 (40%), and 2006 (7%), and it’s housed in a chic decanter, which itself is held in an equally showy show case that options 99 sunbursts surrounding the bottle — consultant of the whiskey’s 99 proof factors.
Tasting Notes:
Nostril: Stuffed with ebullient wheat notes and exhibiting a pleasantly fruit-forward bouquet, this nostril instantly reads like a wheated American whiskey. Outstanding aromas embrace the likes of black cherry, apple slices, and honey. There’s additionally a formidable vanilla undertone, which is accented by graham crackers, celery seed, and leather-based.
Palate: When sipping this whiskey, you’ll style a robust basis of honey and graham cracker notes with the flavour of black cherries claiming heart stage. General, the mouthfeel is extremely wealthy and viscous, which is a profit to the flavour profile, because it permits these candy, fruit-forward notes to coat your tongue and blossom to their full potential. There’s additionally caramel and a strong oak presence that undergirds all of it, indicating that this whiskey is well-aged whereas remaining true to wheated bourbon’s core taste profile, regardless of the undisclosed quantity of wheat whiskey within the mix.
End: The end is satisfyingly extended, because the viscous mouthfeel results in a tongue-coating expertise that helps prolong the size of these well-developed candy notes. Vanilla ice cream and white pepper be a part of the medley of flavors on the again finish, and whereas the viscousness does taper off, the caramel-drizzled fruit notes stay lengthy after your final sip.
Backside Line:
If you wish to sip whiskey prefer it’s 1999, that’s to say, if you’d like an ultra-aged expression that delivers a wealthy classic profile, you then’ve discovered the Weller for you. The worth might provide you with pause, however Weller Millennium presents a extra mature tackle the prototypical Weller profile, displaying slight tweaks on the periphery that serve to raise it as a complete. With a deft steadiness of flavors, an impressively distinct texture, and a deceptively prolonged end, Weller Millennium is seemingly bottled on the excellent proof. Millennium’s decadence is barely rivaled by William Larue in Buffalo Hint’s Weller secure, and it simply outpaces Daniel Weller as a luxurious sipping expertise.
As Buffalo Hint continues to push the boundaries of ultra-aged American whiskey and prolong the higher limits of premium-priced American whiskey, Weller Millennium is an expression that comfortably suits into each classes, regardless of being regretfully out of attain for many shoppers.
2. Weller Millennium Batch #2(2025)
ABV: 49.5%
Common Value: $7,500
The Whiskey:
This new batch from the Weller Millennium label includes a recent mix of parts that have been distilled at Buffalo Hint Distillery in 2001 (2.9%), 2003 (46.5%), and 2006 (50.6%). This 12 months’s mix doesn’t embrace the liquid element from 2000 utilized in 2024’s mix as a result of the remaining barrels of that whiskey have been exhausted within the unique mix. Weller Millennium deux, just like the inaugural batch, is notably a mix that features each wheated bourbon, the lineup’s bread and butter, in addition to wheat whiskey, which is a spirit that made its debut within the Weller lineup with this model final 12 months. You may visually distinguish between batches 1 and a couple of due to an up to date label that now includes a gold-plated info card, versus final 12 months’s white label.
Tasting Notes:
Nostril: The nostril begins with a really related profile to the 2024 batch, although the richness is dialed up a tad as its equally fruit-forward aroma profile finds ripe cherries, Manuka honey, lush vanilla tones, and recent apples effusing out of the glass. These accenting notes of celery seed are nonetheless current, with a bit extra of a peppercorn spice kick, and pie crust propping all of it up.
Palate: On the palate, this whiskey’s sweetness is simple as layers of vanilla custard, ripe black cherries, and cinnamon sable cookies are available waves over the tongue. The mouthfeel is beneficiant and buttery, permitting the whiskey to successfully coat your tongue and rewarding repeat sips or chewing.
End: The medium-to-long end is the place a few of that spice kick emerges in lockstep with the silky honey flavors. Meaning black pepper and nutmeg hit the spot because the fruity, honey-laden sweetness slowly recedes out of your palate because the liquid leaves.
Backside Line:
Wow! I used to be an enormous fan of Weller Millennium’s inaugural batch, nevertheless it virtually felt a bit…protected. For such an exorbitantly priced bourbon, it lacked the pop or originality to actually command your consideration whereas ingesting it. For many who have doubts about making an attempt it, I’d say it tastes like the most effective Weller Vintage Single Barrel you’ve ever had, however even higher.
Weller Millennium Batch #2 simply outdoes the banal excellence of its predecessor with a richer and total extra dynamic tasting expertise that pushes the spice ahead for added steadiness whereas retaining the plush sweetness of its maiden voyage. Solid apart any considerations about its modest proof-point, Weller Millennium Batch #2 is an beautiful whiskey that bears all of the refinement you anticipate at its asking worth.
1. William Larue Weller Bourbon (2025)
ABV: 62.9%
Common Value: $1,800
The Whiskey:
Aged on the decrease flooring of an undisclosed Buffalo Hint warehouse, final 12 months’s William Larue Weller providing was matured for 12 years earlier than being bottled at full cask power. Whereas the barrel entry proof of this liquid was a modest 114 proof, the 2024 version of the vaunted William Larue Weller, by the method of ageing, crept all the best way as much as 125.8 proof.
Tasting Notes:
Nostril: The nosing notes on this one open with dense caramel, wealthy cherries, and an alluring splash of milk chocolate. The aromas of candy oak, clove cigarettes, and honey-drizzled mint sprigs additionally come wafting out of the glass after just a few waves of the hand.
Palate: The impressiveness of this bourbon begins with the dense texture, which effectively coats your palate with brown sugar, black pepper, apple leather-based, and candied walnuts. Every of these notes is de facto wealthy and well-developed, resulting in you sucking your tooth and mining your tastebuds to see simply how deep these flavors will seep into your palate.
End: Cinnamon, purple pepper flakes, and honeyed black tea mark the prolonged end. Because the oak begins to encroach on every of these candy notes, some brown sugar additionally curtails the drying and leaves you drooling for extra.
Backside Line:
Look, if you happen to come on the king, you finest not miss. The 2024 William Larue Weller is a triumph that carries the mantle nicely and continues the model’s fame as being one of many best bourbons in the marketplace as we speak. Regardless of how impressed I used to be with Buffalo Hint’s brand-new batch of Weller Millennium, given its daring proof level and full-bodied layers of taste, it’s rattling close to unimaginable to knock William Larue Weller off its perch as the most effective bourbon within the Weller lineup.
Whereas the remainder of the group bears his surname, the bottle that sports activities William Larue Weller’s full identify is appropriately the one he ought to be most pleased with. In the event you’re elevating a glass to the late/nice bourbon innovator, then that is undoubtedly the best selection of all of them.