The Weller lineup is highly regarded among bourbon aficionados. Beyond the hype, however, lies a legacy rooted in the very heart of Kentucky's distilling tradition, where each bottle reflects the distiller's pursuit of unparalleled smoothness.
If you're ready to explore the nuances of this revered lineup and find out what makes each expression a collector's dream, let's embark on a journey through the Weller family.
The Full Weller Bourbon Lineup
The Weller lineup consists of nine expressions, each with unique characteristics that make them stand out in their own right.
Yet, something they all have in common is that they are exceptionally fine bourbons. So, whether you go for the cheapest or most expensive expression, you're in for a great experience.
1. W.L. Weller Special Reserve
Weller Special Reserve is dubbed the "original wheated bourbon"; affectionately known as the "green label".
If you've never tried Weller bourbon before, start here, with the most accessible expression of the lineup.
Bottled at 90-proof and featuring a distinctive burnt orange hue, this easy drinker is softer on the palate and delivers a mellow experience. It's the perfect bourbon for sipping neat as well as adding to bourbon cocktails.
Weller Special Reserve flavor profile
Weller Special Reserve is for those who like a sweeter taste. Bursting with caramel, butterscotch, and honey, the flavor is balanced with gentle hints of oakwood.
At the end of your sip, you'll enjoy the honeysuckle flourish for a smooth finish.
Weller Special Reserve pricing
While it's the most affordable option, Special Reserve can be challenging to find at retail price. However, the secondary market price comes in at less than $100, making it an easy addition to your bourbon shelf.
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Retail price: $25
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Secondary market price: $90
2. W.L. Weller Antique 107
With a stunning deep amber color, Weller Antique 107 delivers a bold yet balanced bourbon experience.
Bottled at 107 proof, it is thought to have been aged between six and eight years.
This is the expression to go for if you like robust flavor and a full-bodied sip.
Weller Antique 107 flavor profile
Even though it features high proof, this bourbon retains a smooth taste with distinct floral notes, sharp spice, vanilla hints, and an unmistakable cinnamon finish.
Weller Antique 107 pricing
This is another bottle that won't break the bank, with the secondary market price coming in at well below $200.
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Retail price: $50
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Secondary market price: $160
3. W.L. Weller 12-Year
Now, we're reaching the longer-aged expressions. The Weller 12-year is a routinely released bottle from the Weller lineup. However, it's also one of the hardest to find, as fans snap them up quickly as soon as they become available.
As far as wheated bourbons go, the 12-year is aged far longer than others (the average is around 6-12 years), resulting in a drink of exceptional quality.
Like the Special Reserve, Weller 12 is bottled at 90-proof and often likened to the Pappy Van Winkle 15-year, thanks to the comparable mash bills and aging techniques.
Weller 12-year flavor profile
This deep bronze bourbon is characterized by aromas of toasted vanilla, almonds, and creamed corn. Additionally, the heavy wheat content presents notes of lanolin and oak with a long, mildly sweet finish.
Weller 12-year pricing
If you're fortunate enough to locate a bottle, it can be bought for about $200 on the secondary market.
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Retail price: $50
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Secondary market price: $200
4. W.L. Weller Full Proof
If you like a wheated bourbon that knocks your socks off, let us present the Weller Full Proof. Released in 2019, it surged in popularity and is now a firm favorite.
Bottled straight from the barrel, this uncut and non-chill-filtered expression reaches a powerful 114 proof. While it's certainly intense, it's not overwhelming and gives you a delightfully long finish.
Weller Full Proof flavor profile
Powerful yet rich, you'll discover vanilla topped with black cherries, toasted oak, and rich caramel. The fiery finish stretches into creamy honey flavors, finished off with a hint of dark chocolate.
Weller Full Proof pricing
Like all expressions of the Weller bourbon lineup, you'll probably have trouble finding this gem. The secondary market is your best bet when it comes to Weller Full Proof, where you might find a bottle for around $200.
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Retail price: $50
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Secondary market price: $220
5. W.L. Weller Single Barrel
Weller Single Barrel brings a new discovery with each bottle you buy. Each barrel is carefully selected and bottled one at a time, delivering slight variations in taste. These barrel-specific flavors are what make it so special.
At 97 proof, it's a softer special-release expression that's smooth on the palette.
Weller Single Barrel flavor profile
Expect a rich bouquet of vanilla, baking spices, and toasted oak. Aromas include fruity cherry and a splash of mint. The finish is reminiscent of coffee and cinnamon, with just a touch of spicy pepper.
Weller single barrel pricing
We now take a significant jump in price. The Weller single-barrel bourbon can fetch over $700 on the secondary market - but, if you're lucky, you might find one for sale at around $400.
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Retail price: $60
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Secondary market price: $400 - $750
6. W.L. Weller C.Y.P.B.
Weller C.Y.P.B. (Craft Your Perfect Bourbon) was created when the Buffalo Trace Distillery invited fans to head to a website and choose their dream bourbon recipe, age, warehouse aging location, and proof.
The overwhelming majority picked wheated bourbon, and that's how the C.Y.P.B. became part of the Weller bourbon lineup.
Bottled at 95 proof, this unique drink is a limited expression and is only released once per year.
Weller C.Y.P.B. flavor profile
With a stunningly balanced flavor, Weller C.Y.P.B. provides bright notes of citrus, vanilla, and caramel. The mouthfeel is soft with a medium-long finish.
Weller C.Y.P.B. pricing
Like all in the Weller range, this expression is highly sought-after. However, it can often be found available on the secondary market for upwards of $500.
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Retail price: $50
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Secondary market price: $500 - $700
7. William Larue Weller
William Larue Weller is the flagship expression of the entire lineup. Initially released in 2005, the bourbon lineup's namesake is one of the best barrel-proof bourbons that money can buy.
Winning numerous awards, it's uncut and unfiltered and only released annually in limited quantities.
Each annual expression differs slightly in taste, and the fact that around 60% of the bourbon is lost to the "angels" during the aging process only adds to its rarity.
William Larue Weller flavor profile
Spicy oak is the dominant flavor (with some annual expressions being significantly more oaky than others). However, there are many sweet elements to bring balance. Discover notes of toffee, caramel, corn, and nougat.
Dark chocolate, dried fruits, and salted almonds finish off this taste sensation.
William Larue Weller pricing
How much you pay for the bottle will depend on its year of release. High demand from collectors and its consistent place on "best bourbon" lists make this one of the most sought-after expressions.
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Retail price: $100
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Secondary market price: $1,300 - $1,600
8. Daniel Weller Emmer Wheat
Daniel Weller was the Grandfather of William Larue Weller and one of the early distillers of the Weller family line.
Released only in 2023, Daniel Weller Emmer Wheat is the newest expression of the lineup. The bourbon recipe uses emmer wheat (an ancient grain dating back thousands of years) to produce a more rustic and earthy expression.
Bottled at 94 proof, this line is experimental. Each new release is expected to showcase slight variations in grain and grain maturity for differing flavor profiles.
Daniel Weller flavor profile
Aged for almost 12 years, the current release brings bursts of orange zest, hazelnut, and orchard fruits. You'll also encounter notes of caramel, cinnamon, and honey with an oaky, leather finish.
Daniel Weller pricing
As a premium, limited, and experimental bourbon, availability is scarce and hard to come by. As new expressions are released annually, the original versions will become rarer and more expensive.
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Retail price: $500
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Secondary market price: $2,500 - $3,000
9. Weller Millenium
Now, we've reached the crème de la crème of Weller bourbon. The rarest and most special bottle in the Weller bourbon lineup was a special release created to mark the turn of the century.
Presented in an elaborate white box, Weller Millenium is a blend of wheat whiskies and straight bourbon that were distilled between 2000 and 2006. In fact, the Buffalo Trace Distillery set aside some of the first whiskeys distilled in these years specifically to create this expression.
The result? A sweeter, easy expression that is unmatched in smoothness.
Given its scarcity, the Weller Millenium quickly became a coveted collector's item and is highly sought after (and extremely challenging to find).
Weller Millenium flavor profile
This expression offers sweet fruit notes of figs and raisins, rich caramel, and toffee. Expect a strong oak influence topped with a dry elegance that's hard to find elsewhere.
Weller Millenium pricing
Since this bourbon was a one-time release, you can't find it at retail rates. Bottles rarely come up on the secondary market, but when they do, they can go for more than $10,000, depending on their condition.
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Secondary market: $6,300 - $10,000
Who Was William Larue Weller?
In the mid-1800s, William Larue Weller introduced the concept of replacing the rye content of the mash bill with wheat. The resulting product is what is known as "wheated bourbon" and offers the sweeter, smoother flavor profile synonymous with the Weller brand.
Thanks to Weller's contributions, the bourbon industry flourished, and the lineup of wheated bourbon became one of the most-loved products produced by the Buffalo Trace Distillery.
Fun fact: Weller's wheated bourbon recipe was adopted by Julian “Pappy” Van Winkle Sr. and shaped the legendary Pappy Van Winkle lineup.
FAQs
What are the levels of Weller bourbon?
The Weller range has wheated bourbon ranging from entry-level to ultra-premium. They fall into three general categories:
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Entry Level: Weller Special Reserve, Weller Antique 107, Weller 12-Year
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Mid-Tier: Weller Full Proof, Weller Single Barrel, Weller CYPB
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Premium: William Larue Weller, Daniel Weller, Weller Millenium
Which Weller bourbon is best?
The "best" Weller bourbon depends on personal taste. Those who prefer barrel-strength bourbon may consider the William Larue Miller as the pinnacle, while those who like a smoother taste will argue that the Weller 12-year or Antique 107 are the best.
What are the different Weller labels?
Weller bourbon features distinct labeling and colors that distinguish the different types:
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Special Reserve: Green label
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Antique 107: Red label
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Full Proof: Blue label
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12-Year: Black label
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CYPB: White label
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Single Barrel: Brown label
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William Larue Weller: Bottle-printed label with a red wax-sealed top
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Daniel Weller: Gold writing, gold emblem, and a gold wax top
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Weller Millennium: Special gold and white labeling with elaborate white packaging
Which Weller is closest to Pappy?
The Weller 12-year is often regarded as the closest bourbon to Pappy Van Winkle's 15-year. They share a similar mash bill and are both extensively aged.
Some bourbon aficionados like to blend Antique 107 and Weller 12 to mimic a Pappy bourbon even more closely.
Final Thoughts
The Weller lineup might just be the perfect bourbon and is yet another stunning example of what Buffalo Trace can produce.
With roots dating back to William Larue Weller’s innovation of using wheat instead of rye, the brand carries forward a legacy that helped shape modern bourbon as we know it.
If you're lucky enough to get your hands on a bottle, sip slowly and enjoy a taste of history—the world’s original wheated bourbon.
