W.L. WELLER SPECIAL RESERVE: THE ORIGINAL WHEATED BOURBON
Among the many bottles produced at Buffalo Trace Distillery, W.L. Weller Special Reserve stands out for its approachable character and its place in the tradition of American wheated bourbon.
Known by Buffalo Trace as “The Original Wheated Bourbon,” Weller Special Reserve is a Kentucky straight bourbon made with wheat instead of rye as the secondary grain in its mash bill. It is bottled at 90 proof (45% ABV) and is known for a softer, sweeter flavor profile built around caramel, honey, butterscotch, gentle wood and honeysuckle.
What Makes Weller Special Reserve Different?
The defining feature of Weller Special Reserve is its wheated mash bill.
Traditional bourbon is made primarily from corn, with other grains contributing additional flavor. Rye is commonly used as a secondary grain and can bring peppery or spicy characteristics.
Weller takes a different approach by using wheat in place of rye. Buffalo Trace describes this choice as producing the softer and smoother profile associated with the Weller family of bourbons.
This makes Weller Special Reserve particularly interesting for someone exploring bourbon who prefers sweetness and softness over pronounced rye spice.
Weller Special Reserve at a Glance
Type: Straight Bourbon WhiskeyDistillery: Buffalo Trace DistilleryProof: 90 proofAlcohol: 45% ABVMash: Wheated mashStyle: Straight BourbonKey flavors: Caramel, honey, butterscotch and honeysuckle
Unlike Stagg, which emphasizes extremely high barrel-proof intensity, Weller Special Reserve offers a considerably gentler 90-proof experience.
What Does Weller Special Reserve Taste Like?
According to Buffalo Trace, Weller Special Reserve begins with a sweet caramel aroma.
On the palate, expect honey and butterscotch, accompanied by a soft wood character. The finish remains smooth and sweet, with a honeysuckle-like note.
The overall flavor profile can be thought of in four parts:
Caramel provides the familiar bourbon sweetness.
Honey contributes a softer, rounded sweetness.
Butterscotch gives the whiskey a richer dessert-like character.
Honeysuckle appears toward the finish and adds a lighter floral sweetness.
The absence of rye as the secondary grain helps distinguish Weller's character from many more spice-forward bourbons.
Why Is It Called a Wheated Bourbon?
Bourbon must contain at least 51% corn, but distillers have considerable freedom in choosing the remaining grains.
The Weller tradition uses wheat rather than rye as its secondary grain.
William Larue Weller became associated with this approach during the 19th century, and Buffalo Trace continues to build the modern Weller portfolio around the wheated-bourbon concept.
That same general philosophy extends across the Weller family, including Weller Special Reserve, Weller 12 Year, Antique 107, Full Proof, Single Barrel and other expressions.
Weller Special Reserve vs. Weller 12 Year
These bottles share the Weller wheated-bourbon identity, but they shouldn't be confused.
Interestingly, both Weller Special Reserve and Weller 12 Year are bottled at 90 proof.
The major difference is maturation. Buffalo Trace specifically identifies Weller 12 as an age-stated expression that spends considerably longer aging, producing more pronounced oak and mature characteristics. Its official profile highlights almond, creamed corn, toasted vanilla and a long oak-driven finish.
Special Reserve is positioned as the more approachable introduction to the Weller family.
Weller Special Reserve vs. Weller Full Proof
The difference becomes much more dramatic with Weller Full Proof.
Special Reserve is 90 proof (45% ABV), while Full Proof is 114 proof (57% ABV).
Buffalo Trace says Full Proof is bottled at the same 114 proof at which it entered the barrel and is non-chill filtered. Its flavor profile moves toward vanilla, dark cherry, caramel, toasted oak, crème brûlée and chocolate.
Special Reserve offers the gentler side of the Weller family; Full Proof provides substantially greater proof, concentration and oak presence.
How to Drink Weller Special Reserve
One advantage of Weller Special Reserve's 90-proof strength is versatility.
Try it neat first. A Glencairn or similar tasting glass allows you to experience its caramel and honey aromas without dilution.
It also works over a large ice cube if you prefer bourbon chilled. As the ice slowly melts, the whiskey becomes lighter and can reveal different aspects of its sweetness.
Buffalo Trace itself recommends Special Reserve neat, on the rocks or in cocktails.
Weller Special Reserve and Cigars
Weller Special Reserve can also make an interesting cigar pairing because its sweeter wheated profile doesn't require an extremely powerful cigar.
A mild-to-medium or medium-bodied cigar with notes of cedar, cream, nuts, toast or gentle baking spice can complement the bourbon without overwhelming it.
A cigar with natural sweetness can also work particularly well alongside Weller's caramel, honey and butterscotch character.
Try alternating between a small sip and a draw from the cigar rather than experiencing them simultaneously. The bourbon may make certain sweet or woody characteristics in the cigar more noticeable, while the cigar can change how you perceive the bourbon's finish.
The Weller Family
Weller Special Reserve is just one member of a much larger collection.
Today's Weller portfolio includes Special Reserve, 12 Year, Antique 107, Single Barrel, C.Y.P.B., Full Proof, William Larue Weller and additional limited or experimental expressions.
The common thread is the Weller association with wheat-forward whiskey making.
For someone beginning to explore the collection, Special Reserve provides a straightforward introduction to that signature style without the significantly higher proof of expressions such as Full Proof or William Larue Weller.
A Classic Introduction to Wheated Bourbon
W.L. Weller Special Reserve demonstrates how changing one important part of a bourbon recipe can influence the entire drinking experience.
At 90 proof, with a wheated mash bill and flavors centered around caramel, honey, butterscotch and honeysuckle, it represents the softer side of Kentucky bourbon.
Whether enjoyed neat, over ice, in a cocktail, or alongside a cigar, Weller Special Reserve offers an accessible introduction to the distinctive style that has made the Weller name so recognizable among bourbon enthusiasts.
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