Buy rare and selected William Larue Weller Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey online

William Larue Weller was an important person in the early bourbon history of Kentucky in the 19th century. He was a whiskey merchant and distiller who started around 1849. He is credited with being one of the first (if not the first) to popularize the use of wheat instead of rye as a secondary grain (along with corn) in the bourbon mashbill. The mashbill for Weller bourbon whiskeys contains mostly corn as a base, and unlike most other bourbons where rye plays a crucial role, Weller relies on the use of wheat as a secondary grain. This wheated bourbon style has resulted in a softer, smoother flavor profile.
Weller s business prospered and was merged with the A. Ph. Stitzel Distillery to form the legendary Stitzel-Weller Distillery, which opened in 1935 (after Prohibition). During Prohibition, the company was under the supervision of the U.S. government and produced alcohol for medical purposes. Stitzel produced brands such as W.L. Weller, Cabin Still, Rebel Yell, Old Fitzgerald and Old Rip van Winkle. The distillery was significantly influenced by Julian Pappy Van Winkle senior and was famous for its high-quality wheated bourbons, including the Weller and Pappy Van Winkle brands. Following the closure of the Stitzel-Weller distillery in 1992, the brand rights to Weller were eventually acquired by the Sazerac Company. Today, Weller bourbons are produced at the Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky.
In 2000, Buffalo Trace launched the Antique Collection (BTAC), a series of five limited edition, highly regarded American whiskeys released annually and bottled undiluted, straight from the cask. The exact strength and age varies each year and is indicated on the bottle. One of these five bottlings was named in honor of the pioneer William Larue Weller. Released annually in the fall, this special series of William Larue Weller Bourbon Whiskeys represent the best of the best of wheated bourbon from the Buffalo Trace warehouses and are among Buffalo Trace s five most coveted annual releases, along with George T. Stagg (Bourbon), Thomas H. Handy Sazerac (Rye), 18 Years Sazerac Rye and the Eagle Rare 17 Years (Bourbon).
The William Larue Weller is one of the most famous American bourbon whiskeys today and the exclusive wheated bourbon does not show the typical spiciness of rye in character, but soft, sweet grain notes and the undiluted (barrel proof / barrel strength) and unfiltered mostly 10-15 year old bourbon are extremely intense, complex and full-bodied. The flavor is very rich with notes of caramel, toffee, vanilla, maple syrup, dark honey, sometimes chocolate, dark fruits such as cherries, plums, dates, raisins, often cooked or baked fruits with distinct but very well integrated oak notes, often described as toasted oak, leather and tobacco. Despite the lack of rye, sweet baking spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves often develop due to the long maturation and high strength, and sometimes nuts, coffee or cocoa can also be found. Due to the lack of chill filtration, the texture is often oily, viscous and creamy. The finish is extremely long, warming and complex, with the various flavors lingering.
The production of William Larue Weller Bourbon Whiskey is strictly limited and the bottles are mostly sold via allocations to retailers or lotteries. Each bottle is bottled and labeled by hand to ensure the highest quality of craftsmanship and uniqueness. On the secondary market, they fetch prices many times the original retail price. William Larue Weller Whiskey is considered one of the holy grails for bourbon collectors. As different barrels are selected each year, there are slight differences in age, flavor profile and alcohol content between vintages, which makes it even more interesting for collectors.
William Larue Weller regularly receives the highest ratings and awards from critics and at competitions worldwide, and has been named Best Bourbon and Bourbon of the Year several times. It is a tribute to the whiskey pioneer William Larue Weller, absolutely brilliant and an exceptional hand-made bourbon whiskey from Kentucky and an absolute highlight for connoisseurs, whiskey collectors and gourmets! In our whisky store you will find the largest selection of rare old and current whiskies from William Larue Weller from the legendary Buffalo Trace Antique Collection.