Review #615 - William Larue Weller (2023)

Written By Me, My Wife & Whisky

The wheated bourbon option in Buffalo Trace's annual Antique Collection series: this is William Larue Weller, the 'big brother' of the Weller bourbon series, which is highly sought after in its own right. This barrel proof, unfiltered bourbon boasts a high age statement - it varies each year, and for this 2023 bottling, it's a maturation length of 12 years and 6 months.

Buffalo Trace doesn't disclose the mashbill for their Weller or William Larue Weller bourbons, but we know that wheat replaces the typical rye as the flavoring grain; this release uses corn from Kentucky, as well as wheat and malted barley from North Dakota. This spirit was distilled in 2011, and though its barrel entry proof was a rather modest 114 (57% ABV), at the end of the aging process, the strength rose to a hefty 66.8% ABV (133.6 proof).

William Larue Weller (2023)

USA - Bourbon

MSRP: USD 125 (2023)

Available Price: USD 980 (2025, based on recent auction results)

Age Statement: 12 Years

Strength: 66.8% ABV

Details: Not chill filtered, distilled 2011, bottled 2023

Tasting Methodology: Reviewed 3 times over 4 months from a sample. Tasted in a nosing glass each time, rested 15+ minutes

Nose: Sweet, rich, and dark - syrupy Luxardo cherries combine with subtle smoky tobacco and cherry cola. Strong oak brings antique furniture notes, and the fruit side grows: grape, blackberry, black cherry, even blood orange. Vanilla and graham crackers add subtle sweetness later; this has layers that take time to unwrap.

Palate: The mouthfeel is thick - rich oak greets us, quite leathery and a bit tannic. It brings subtleties of fresh lumber and unsmoked cigars; this is a warm palate, but we would say it drinks under its proof. The fruits are hidden behind: dark cherries, blackberries, cherry cola again. The cola note grows much stronger, and we get a creamy note, too.

Finish: Strong leathery oak, spicy oak, too. It's definitely dominated by the wood notes now, but we also still get a fruity backbone of tart strawberry, dark grape, and cherry; pepper adds a spice, and there's a hint of barbecue in the wood, as well as cigars. It's a medium-long finish with nice texture.

Final Note: Outstanding bourbon - just about the best we've ever tried. The strength is so well integrated, the flavors have many layers, and there's a nice mix of punchiness and subtlety. We love those sweeter red fruit flavors that Buffalo Trace bourbons often give us, and the additional of the old, smoky oak and tobacco notes is lovely. Really amazing stuff, a bottle we would take our time with and savor.

Value-wise, this is great at the suggested retail price from the distillery; unfortunately, the vast majority of us aren't likely to ever see it for that price. At secondary pricing, which seems to be close to $1,000 based on auction results, value is not very good, despite this being an incredible bourbon.

Our Average Rating: 9.6 / 10

In the current whisky landscape of increasing prices and variable quality, we've added a value rating to our reviews that relates to the score and the available pricing of each whisky. This roughly equates to a 0-10 scale; no reviews so far have exceeded a score of 10, although it is technically possible for the formula to produce a value rating higher than 10 with a high enough score and low enough price.

Value Rating (MSRP): 7.67

Value Rating (Available Price): 3.85

About Us: We're a husband and wife review team living in the Midwest United States. Generally, our reviews and tasting notes will be a compilation of both of our experiences with a whisky over several tasting sessions.

Me, My Wife & Whisky
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Review #614 - Isle of Raasay Na Sia Single Cask - Peated Ex-Bordeaux Cask