(Old) Weller Antique Review
Whether you have had any of the Weller line of bourbons or not, it’s likely that you have heard about them. They range from Weller Special Reserve, which is bottled at 90 proof to William Larue Weller, which this past year was bottled at 128 proof and was around 12 years old. Buffalo Trace has recently been adding to the Weller line. Weller Full Proof, which is bottled at 114 proof was added last year, and Weller Single Barrel was just recently announced. Other members of the family are Weller 12 year, (Old) Weller Antique and Weller C.Y.P.B.
Weller Bourbon Basics
All of the Weller bourbons are wheated bourbons. Bourbon must contain at least 51% percent corn. Most bourbons then have a smaller percentage of a secondary grain, which is most frequently rye. For Weller, the secondary grain is wheat. A relatively small amount of malted barley is usually included in a bourbon mash, mainly for it’s enzymatic activity, although it does also add some flavor. Buffalo Trace is not particularly forthcoming about their mashbills, so we don’t know the exact percentages of each grain used. However, the mashbill is thought to be the same for all the Weller products. Where they differ is in how long and where they are aged, what proof they are bottled at and whether they are filtered or not.
Weller Packaging and Price
The Weller Special Reserve, Weller Antique and Weller 12 underwent a packaging change in late 2016, going from a squat rounded bottle to the taller current form. Weller Antique also lost the “Old” from its label, although interestingly it is still referred to as Old Weller Antique on Buffalo Trace’s website and many people still refer to it as “OWA”. 🤔 At the time of the packaging change the suggested retail price of a 750-ml. bottle of Weller Special Reserve was $17.99, Weller Antique 107 was $19.99, and Weller 12-Year-Old, $24.99. Currently the suggested retail price of Weller Antique is $50 following A price increase at the end of last year. Some of the Weller bourbons are quite plentiful in certain states (I’m looking at you, Texas) but in most parts of the country this bourbon is fairly difficult to find.
(Old) Weller Antique Tasting Notes
So on to this particular bourbon. This was a store pick from Wine + Market in Lexington, Kentucky, and it is the best Weller Antique I have had. It has the classic bourbon flavors with a full-bodied taste and aroma.
Nose: Rich flavors of caramel, chocolate, apples, with noticeable alcohol
Taste: Sweet, with caramel and cocoa
Finish: Caramel, black pepper, tobacco, some char developing and continuing with a bit of an alcohol burn.
Like so many Buffalo Trace products, this is a good one and still a good value if you can find it for its retail price.
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