Weller Special Reserve Bourbon: A Nostalgic Journey to Unmatched Value

• Company: Sazerac Company
• Distillery: Buffalo Trace
• Proof: 90
• Price: $25

For our first review, it is only fitting to start with Weller Special Reserve – the dram that started a love of bourbon for yours truly. In the years since that first sip, this bourbon has developed a glowing aura that few spirits possess. It has gone from a bourbon found readily available at shopping-mall-sized liquor stores to one that is generally stashed in the back hallway of a local shop, only accessible by saying the secret passcode three times. But is that deserved? That is not for me to decide. But WSR was the start of my whiskey journey, and its ascent to rarified air allowed me to trust my palate as I loved this one “before it was cool.”

Weller Special Reserve is the youngest of the bourbons produced in the Weller lineup. These bourbons are named after William Larue Weller, a pioneer of whiskey in the mid-1800s. Weller preferred to substitute the more mild wheat grain for the traditional rye, and, in some circles, is credited as the first to do so. Hence, the Weller Special Reserve bottle dawns the moniker “The Original Wheated Bourbon.” Eventually, Pappy Van Winkle merged Weller’s company to form the Stitzel-Weller Distillery.

NOSE: On the nose, you are first greeted with the smell of a dry, fruity sweetness – like a crisp apple. The more the spirit opens up in your glass, the sweeter notes come through. The most prominent of those being a thick, melted caramel. Vanilla is also present. Overall, it is an inviting nose for drinkers of all preferences.

PALATE: As you take your first sip, the vanilla jumps to the forefront of your tongue and taste buds. As the liquid moves across the tongue, the caramel makes its reappearance. There is a strong oak flavor that is usually present in bourbons twice the age of the Special Reserve. However, the presence of the wheat grain shows its usefulness at this point; potentially, rye mixed with this surprising level of oak might be less inviting than other bourbons at 45% alcohol, but the wheat smooths this out and makes this a smooth sip of bourbon. You will not find an abundance of complexity here, but it is certainly one you want to come back to.

FINISH: The finish is short but with a punch for 90 proof. The oak takes the lead and provides for a dry finish with a bite. This is not an overpowering dryness or bite. There are still hints of the sweeter flavors from the nose and palate, but this is more honey sweetness. Overall, the finish is fitting and gives depth that is otherwise missing.

For what it’s worth, Buffalo Trace describes the tasting notes as having butterscotch, soft woodiness and a honeysuckle flair in addition to some of what was mentioned above. The bottle retails for around $25, but it is becoming increasingly difficult to find. The secondary market prices this as high as $200. When found at MSRP, this is one of the better values one can find on their bourbon journey.

VERDICT: Weller Special Reserve deserves a strong score. Critics of this are not terribly hard to find and will point to a relatively low proof and lack of complexity as its downfall. However, there are not many faults in this bottle. The traditional bourbon sweetness followed by a worthy bite makes for a nice combination. The possibility certainly exists for the rating to score in a bit of nostalgia, but nonetheless, you’ll be hard pressed to have a more available bottle better than this on your shelf.