Weller Full Proof Review

Distillery: Buffalo Trace

Proof: 114

Age: No Age Statement (said to be at least 4 years)

Mashbill: Undisclosed (Buffalo Trace “Wheated” Mashbill)

MSRP: ~$50

Fair Price: $150 – $200 (shelf price is rising quickly to $400+)

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Company

Buffalo Trace (Sazerac Company) is arguably the most well-known distillery on the planet. Its lineup includes the likes of Pappy. E.H. Taylor, Blanton’s, Elmer T. Lee, W.L. Weller, and more.

The Weller line is named after William Laurie Weller, who was credited as being the first distiller to use wheat instead of rye as a secondary grain. He also actually hired Julian Van Winkle (Yep…”Pappy”) and his company (W.L. Weller & Sons) eventually merged with A. Ph. Stitzel Distillery to become Stitzel-Weller Distilling.

Production

Buffalo Trace launched Weller Full Proof in June of 2019. Unlike most bottles, its “full proof” label doesn’t mean this is a barrel proof whiskey. Instead, it means that it’s bottled at 114 proof, which is the same proof the distillate was when it entered the barrel. This expression is released annually.

Weller Full Proof Review: Flavor Profile

Nose – 3.25/5

Deep caramel with notes of toffee and vanilla. Pronounced ethanol. A bit more on dimensional than expected when compared to Weller Special Reserve and Antique 107. I expected this to be substantially richer but it was just barely so.

Palate – 3.75/5

Deep caramel carries from the nose but with an unexpected heat blast at the start of the sip. It’s oddly similar to wasabi but much more enjoyable. Hints of dark fruit move to vanilla and slight oak on the tail end. It’s sweet and balanced with a good bit of character. The heat is almost too overpowering, but it barely toes the line. Reminds me of a not as good George T. Stagg.

Finish – 4/5

Hot and long. Cinnamon with lingering caramel, baking spices, and oak. It’s satisfying and brings the heat.

Value – 2/5

The price of a bottle of Weller Full Proof is getting laughable right now. I got my bottle for about $140. A ton of people gave me crap for it because I “paid too much”. Stores are selling this bottle for $200-$500. The secondary market sells it for about $250 from my experience.

This just isn’t a $200+ bourbon. It was honestly slightly disappointing because I’m a huge Weller fan. It wasn’t as rich and dynamic as I had hoped. I think it’s worth about $100 tops. You can get 2-3 amazing bottles for the price of a Weller Full Proof.

Weller Full Proof Review…The Verdict

3.25/5 (oh so close to a silver medal)

We score each bourbon based on nose, palate, finish, and value.

Scoring System:

• Platinum – 4.25 – 5
• Gold – 3.25 – 4.24
• Silver – 2.75 – 3.24
• Bronze – <2.75

Weller Full Proof FAQs

1. How often is Weller Full Proof released?

It’s released annually, usually in the summer.

2. What proof is Weller Full Proof?

It is 114 proof which is much lower proof than many true barrel proof bourbons.