In-Depth Review of Cult Favorite Wheated Bourbon Weller Special Reserve

An In-Depth Review of Weller Special Reserve Bourbon

Bourbon whiskey has seen a huge resurgence in popularity over the last decade, with connoisseurs and casual drinkers alike exploring the wide range of options available. And one brand that has certainly been getting a lot of love is W.L. Weller, produced by the Sazerac Company at the Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky.

Weller offers several expressions, but one of their standout bottlings is the Weller Special Reserve. As a wheated bourbon containing a higher wheat content than most bourbons, it provides a smooth, easy drinking experience that makes it very approachable for bourbon novices and aficionados alike.

In this in-depth review, we’ll take a close look at Weller Special Reserve, covering everything from its mash bill, aging process, and tasting notes to how it stacks up to other wheated bourbons. We’ll also provide some recommended pairings and give our final verdict on whether it’s worth hunting down a bottle of this increasingly popular wheater.

Weller Special Reserve Overview

Weller Special Reserve is the entry level expression in the W.L. Weller lineup. It's made from the same mashbill as the more sought after Pappy Van Winkle bourbons, with a higher wheat content than most bourbon whiskeys.

Here are some key facts about Weller Special Reserve:

• Owned by Sazerac Company / Produced at Buffalo Trace Distillery
• A wheated bourbon containing approximately 18% wheat
• No age statement, but likely 4-5 years old on average
• 90 proof (45% ABV)
• Available year-round, though often allocated
• MSRP around $25 but often retails higher

As a wheated bourbon, the higher wheat content gives Weller Special Reserve a sweeter, smoother profile in comparison to bourbons with a higher rye content. Let's take a closer look at the mash bill and production process.

Mash Bill and Production

Weller Special Reserve features the standard "wheat recipe" mash bill used for all of Buffalo Trace's wheated bourbons. The mash bill is:

• Corn: Around 75%
• Wheat: Around 18%
• Malted Barley: Around 7%

This is in comparison to a more traditional bourbon mash bill which contains around 70% corn, 20% rye, and 10% malted barley. By replacing most of the rye with wheat, it gives Weller a softer, mellower taste.

For fermentation, Buffalo Trace uses a proprietary yeast strain along with the mash bill to give Weller Special Reserve its characteristic flavor profile. After distillation and aging, it's bottled at 90 proof (45% ABV) without any chill filtering, meaning it retains maximum flavor and aroma.

Weller Special Reserve does not carry an age statement, but it's believed to contain bourbon aged around 4-5 years on average. Older stocks likely get held back for the more premium Weller expressions like the Antique Collection.

Tasting Notes and Flavor Profile

So what can you expect from Weller Special Reserve when you sip it neat or use it in a cocktail? Here are some of the notable tasting notes:

• Color: Light amber
• Nose: Sweet aromas of vanilla, butterscotch, and toasted oak. Hints of cherry and apple.
• Palate: Light bodied with a silky, creamy mouthfeel. Sweet up front with vanilla, butterscotch, and brown sugar. Mid-palate brings notes of honeywheat bread, baked apple, and cherry. Oaky spices emerge toward the finish.
• Finish: Medium length with lingering notes of vanilla, peppery oak, and dried fruits. Gentle warmth.

Overall, the flavor profile is sweet and gentle for a bourbon, with the wheat lending an approachable softness. You get classic bourbon notes of vanilla and oak tempered by fruity wheat flavors. The lower proof makes it smooth and easy-sipping.

How Does Weller Special Reserve Compare to Other Wheated Bourbons?

As a wheated bourbon, Weller Special Reserve sits in good company alongside other popular wheaters like Maker's Mark, Larceny, and the Van Winkle line. But how does it compare specifically?

Maker's Mark is another wheated bourbon that uses a similar mash bill with around 70% corn, 16% wheat, and 14% malted barley. It's also aged to around 5-6 years. But Maker's has a lower proof at 90 proof (45% ABV) versus Weller's 90 proof. In a side-by-side, Maker's comes across as slightly thinner and lighter, while Weller has more boldness in its flavor.

Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond is another wheater made by Heaven Hill. It uses a mashbill of around 68% corn, 20% wheat, and 12% malted barley. Aged for at least four years and bottled at 100 proof, Old Fitz will taste bolder and have more heat than the softer Weller Special Reserve.

And then you have the Pappy Van Winkle line, also made from the same wheated mashbill as Weller Special Reserve but aged for much longer. Pappy 15 Year and 20 Year are aged for a minimum of 15 and 20 years respectively, giving them a rich, intense, deep flavor profile that showcases how wheated bourbon evolves over time. Of course, you'll pay exponentially more for Pappy than the relatively accessible Weller Special Reserve.

Cocktail Recipes

Weller Special Reserve makes a great bourbon for sipping neat or on the rocks. But its sweet, smooth taste also plays nicely in a range of classic and modern cocktails. Here are some great cocktails to try using Weller Special Reserve:

Old Fashioned

The quintessential whiskey cocktail only needs three ingredients, and they combine beautifully with Weller Special Reserve:

• 2 oz Weller Special Reserve
• 2-3 dashes Angostura bitters
• 1 sugar cube
• Orange peel garnish

Place sugar cube in glass and soak with bitters. Add ice and bourbon. Stir until chilled and diluted. Express orange peel over drink and drop in as garnish.

Kentucky Mule

A whiskey take on the Moscow Mule:

• 2 oz Weller Special Reserve
• 4-6 oz ginger beer
• Squeeze of fresh lime juice
• Mint sprig garnish

Build over ice in a copper mug or rocks glass. Top with ginger beer and garnish with mint.

Gold Rush

A modern classic that's equal parts sweet and boozy:

• 2 oz Weller Special Reserve
• 3/4 oz honey syrup
• 3/4 oz lemon juice

Shake with ice and strain over fresh ice. Garnish with an orange twist.

Ideal Food Pairings

With its sweet, gentle taste profile, Weller Special Reserve pairs nicely with a variety of foods:

• Pork chops: The vanilla and baking spice flavors complement pork's mild sweetness.
• Roast turkey: Turkey has an affinity for nutty, vanilla-forward flavors.
• Apple pie: The fruity wheat notes mirror baked apple desserts.
• Pecan pie: The nuttiness of pecans plays off the bourbon's oak and vanilla.
• Cured meats: Salumi, serrano ham, etc benefit from the sweetness.
• Aged cheddar: The bold cheese stands up to the bourbon.

Weller Special Reserve is gentle enough to not overpower more delicate foods. But it also has enough character to match heartier ingredients.

The Verdict on Weller Special Reserve

At the end of the day, Weller Special Reserve is an excellent wheated bourbon, especially considering its reasonable price point and relatively wide availability. While supplies have tightened up over the past few years as wheated bourbon has exploded in popularity, it's still one of the more attainable bottles among the premium wheaters.

The sweet, smooth flavor makes it extremely approachable for bourbon drinkers of all levels. It mixes well in cocktails but also shines beautifully on its own. And it provides a quality wheated experience at a fraction of the price of PVW expressions like Pappy Van Winkle.

Given the solid value and taste, Weller Special Reserve earns an enthusiastic recommendation. This is one bourbon that lives up to the hype and gives you a flavorful experience you'll want to come back to again and again.

FAQs

What is the mash bill for Weller Special Reserve?

Weller Special Reserve features a "wheated" mashbill of around 75% corn, 18% wheat, and 7% malted barley. This is different than most bourbon mash bills which contain rye instead of wheat.

How does Weller Special Reserve compare to Pappy Van Winkle?

Weller Special Reserve and the Pappy Van Winkle line are made from the same wheated mashbill. However, Pappy is aged for much longer at minimum 15 years for the 15 Year expression. This extended aging gives Pappy a more bold, intense, and layered flavor profile.

What foods pair well with Weller Special Reserve?

Weller Special Reserve pairs nicely with pork, baked apple desserts, cured meats, and aged cheddar due to its sweet and oaky flavor profile. The wheated bourbon complements a variety of dishes.

Does Weller Special Reserve work in cocktails?

Yes, Weller Special Reserve makes a great bourbon for cocktails like the Old Fashioned, Kentucky Mule, and Gold Rush. Its sweet wheat taste balances nicely with other ingredients.

Is Weller Special Reserve easy to find?

Due to wheated bourbon's surge in popularity, Weller Special Reserve has seen tight supplies recently. However, it remains one of the more readily available bottles among premium wheated bourbons like Pappy Van Winkle.