Weller Full Proof is bottled at the same 114 proof the spirit was when it entered into the barrel. According to the bottle, “William Larue Weller developed his original bourbon recipe with wheat, rather than rye, giving his bourbon a softer and smoother taste. This, combined with his philosophy of “honest whiskey at an honest price,” helped propel his bourbon to renowned status. Bottled at 114 proof this bourbon forgoes chill-filtration , leaving behind all the naturally occurring oils from the aging process and preserving the full flavor of the bourbon. A whiskey that satisfies the demand of the whiskey enthusiast, honoring the man who made wheat whiskey legendary/”
The Weller family immigrated to Maryland from Germany in the 1740s where they put down roots, purchased a large tract of land and became farmers and millers. They later moved to the Bluegrass state in the mid-1790s and began distilling on their land taking part in the early foundations of the whiskey industry that would go onto to become a defining part of Kentucky culture.
In 1849, W.L. Weller began his career as a wholesale whiskey dealer and distiller carrying on the legacy started by his paternal grandfather and his maternal great-grandfather. Weller first started W.L. Weller & Brothers with his younger sibling Charles before changing the name to W.L. Weller & Sons. Weller continued to grow his whiskey business over the years, gaining interest in his products and processes, and becoming a prominent whiskey brand.
In 1893 Julian P. “Pappy” Van Winkle Sr. was hired onto W.L. Weller & Sons as a whiskey salesman. After W.L. Weller’s passing in 1899, Pappy and his co-worker Alex Farnsley purchased the company in 1908. George Weller, William’s oldest son, remained President of the company until the beginning of Prohibition when Pappy and Farnsley decided to merge with Arthur Stitzel of A. PH. Stitzel Distillery to create Stitzel-Weller Distillery which opened on Derby Day of 1935.
Stitzel-Weller quickly became known for its wheated bourbon recipe using wheat instead of rye in the mash for a softer, smoother taste.
Bourbon Review: Weller Full Proof
ABV: 57% (114 Proof)
Age: NAS
Mash Bill: Not Disclosed
Distillery: Buffalo Trace Distillery
Location: Bardstown, KY (USA)
The Nose: An incredible bouquet rises from the glass consisting of berries, corn, cinnamon and a touch of caramel. Letting the glass sit for a bit sees the addition of corn, oak and wheat all of which are to be expected on most things bourbon.
The Taste: The initial sips serves up toasted oak, toasted wheat and subtle corn syrup. The toasted oak is more potent than a toasted barrel pick and much more enjoyable. Additional sips see coffee cake crumble, cinnamon and a touch of caramel.
The Finish: While the front end of the finish sees the heat ramp up a few degrees, the beautiful oily mouthfeel sees a lingering sweetness consisting of a caramel, brown sugar and and a touch of coffee cake crumble. Additional sips see nuances of cinnamon adding the the glorious finish.
Conclusion: Weller is an allocated bourbon that will probably be harder to come by due to the catastrophic floods in Kentucky in 2025. While there wasn’t much damage to the stock all that water is definitely going to affect the aging of alcohol in theory. Regardless, Weller is a brand that sums up everything wrong with the bourbon industry from a layman’s eyes as there are too many allocated bourbon’s that are too hard for the average consumer to get. It’s at the point where I am beginning to think it a marketing ploy that is self created by the distilleries.
But alas, you came here to read about Weller Full Proof. Simply put, Weller Full Proof is the best Weller out there and I’ve had them all except for the Millenium. My only knock on it is a positive for most people. Idt rinks a hell of a lot lighter than the 114 proof it is. If I was blindfolded and I wasn’t for this review, would have guessed this to be 92 proof at the most. However the flavors pops, the bourbon is smooth and the value for a barrel proof pour is huge.
Score: 95
Price: $69.99 (750ml)
