Distillery: Buffalo Trace
Proof: 90
Age: No Age Statement
Mashbill: Undisclosed (Buffalo Trace “Wheated” Mashbill)
MSRP: $30
Fair Price: ~$50
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, Weller, and more. This was originally created by the Stitzel-Weller Distilling Company.
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
Weller Special Reserve is made with wheat as the main secondary grain rather than rye (but still contains at least 51% corn like all bourbon must). It’s the most “common” of the Weller bottles and is produced on an ongoing basis. That doesn’t necessarily make it easy to find, though…
Weller Special Reserve Flavor Profile
Nose
Soft notes of light caramel, vanilla, and honey. Very inviting, but not incredibly robust. It’s the “classic” bourbon nose.
| Inspector’s Score | Insider’s Score | Average Score |
|---|---|---|
| 3/5 | 3/5 | 3/5 |
Palate
Deep caramel, honey, and just a slight spice. It’s almost like a richer version of Buffalo Trace. It has a decent amount of character but is one of the easiest sipping bourbons I’ve ever had. It’s soft, sweet, and inviting.
It’s comparable to Maker’s Mark, another wheated bourbon, but with maybe a tad bit more flavor.
| Inspector’s Score | Insider’s Score | Average Score |
|---|---|---|
| 3.5/5 | 3/5 | 3.25/5 |
Finish
A short, delicate finish with very slight heat and notes of caramel and a touch of oak.
| Inspector’s Score | Insider’s Score | Average Score |
|---|---|---|
| 3/5 | 3/5 | 3/5 |
Value
At MSRP, Weller Special Reserve would be unquestionably the best bourbon under $30 in my opinion. But, of course, the Weller line is always marked up due to its limited availability and hype. My bottle was about $50. I’m actually pretty happy with the value there, but I’m not sure if I would buy another at $50 because it’s nowhere near as good as most $50 on the shelves at any store.
Again, though, this is really sweet and easy to sip—in fact, the smoothest bourbon I’ve had. If you like more spice and less sweetness in your bourbon, this isn’t the pour for you.
I tend to like the sweeter, more traditional bourbons, so I thought it was really solid.
| Inspector’s Score | Insider’s Score | Average Score |
|---|---|---|
| 2.5/5 | 2.67/5 | 2.59/5 |
Weller Special Reserve Review: The Verdict…
2.96/5
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
Bourbons Like Weller Special Reserve
While there aren’t many bourbons exactly like WSR, these two have very similar profiles because they’re wheated and have close to the same proof:
- Maker’s Mark
- Larceny
Weller Special Reserve FAQs
1. Is Weller Special Reserve good?
Yes, Weller Special Reserve is a good bourbon. If you can find it for under $50 it’s worth trying at least once. If you can find it for $30, grab it immediately.
2. Is Weller Special Reserve rare?
It depends on your definition of “rare”. It’s allocated, so its harder to find than most bourbons. It’s usually kept behind counters at stores. But in terms of other allocated bourbons, it’s one of the easiest ones to find. I stumble onto them just about every month or two.
3. Why is Weller Special Reserve so expensive?
Because of demand. Most allocated bourbons from Buffalo Trace are 2x-3x more expensive at stores than their MSRPs suggest. It’s simple economics, unfortunately.
4. Is Weller Special Reserve smooth?
Yes, it’s like petting a baby seal. But in all seriousness, it’s very easy to drink and sweet. If you generally like cask strength or higher proof bottles, Weller Special Reserve will be one of the lightest bourbons you’ll ever have.
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Hunter Branch is the Founder and Director of Editorial for Bourbon Inspector. He has been writing about and professionally reviewing bourbon since 2020 (and has been drinking it for much longer). He’s been able to interview big names in the bourbon industry like Trey Zoeller from Jefferson’s Bourbon and his work has been featured in publications like TastingTable, Mashed, and more.