W L Weller 12

[opelfruit]

Usually I'm a big fan of rye and high rye bourbons but I'm also partial to a good old easy sipper provided it's high quality, for these times it's nice to reach for wheated bourbon. Probably the most easily obtainable (in the UK) is Weller.


So Buffalo Trace, being the giants they are, produce a wheated bourbon range under the Weller name. A wheated bourbon is one that swaps the rye out of the mashbill as the secondary grain in favour of wheat, with the majority of the mash as corn with some malted barley to provide the enzymes to convert the mash.

The produce the following:

Old Weller Antique - 107 proof at about 6 years old

W L Weller Special Reserve - 90 proof at about 6 years old

Weller 12 - 90 proof at 12 years old

The also produce a wheater for the BT Antique Collection in the William Larue Weller (12 years old, unfiltered and barrel proof).


This is about the standard 12 year old, as it's probably the pick of the range for your chilled out sipping needs.

Where rye gives a big punch and train loads of flavour and spice to a bourbon, wheat has the oposite effect; it smooths and sweetens the bourbon. Ryes are good young but wheated bourbons really need some aging to get the most out of the wheat grains in the mash and give that rounded, thick and rich flavour. Wheated bourbons age very, very well as can be seen in the Pappy Van Winkle range (20/23 years plus), which is some serious aging for bourbon.


Pappy Van Winkle is very expensive (you can't even get them in the UK) but it's funny as Weller and Pappy share the same mashbill and Sitzel-Weller legacy.


Weller 12:

Nose:
Loads of caramel and vanilla, some cola and cherry. Some almond.


Palate:
Good oak, but not too much given it's age. Thick mouthfeel and a buttery consistency. Vanilla and a bit of barrel char. Toffee and caramel, it is sweet. Some cherry. The oak comes back in again and just nips the sweetness to stop it getting too much. Mentholly/mintiness as it fades.


Finish:
Pretty short, but leaving a nice carmel taste.


It's a really easy drinking, high quality bourbon. I'd like to see it sitting more near 100 proof/50% abv as I think it needs a bit more excitement and it would also help strengthen the finish.

Retails in the UK for about £35 (ish), which I'm more than happy to pay.
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"Too much of anything is bad, but too much good whisky is barely enough."

[Quaich1]

[opelfruit]

Nope, never tried new make.
_________________
"Too much of anything is bad, but too much good whisky is barely enough."