Review #: 324
Description: William Larue Weller (2020)
Spirit: Bourbon
Background: One of the more sought after of the BTAC line, William Larue Weller is the well aged, wheated bourbon Buffalo Trace puts out at barrel proof. The 2020 release comes in at 12 Years and 6 months, and bottled at 134.5 proof. My first taste, this one excites me more than Pappy, if I am honest.
Distillery – Buffalo Trace
Bottler – Buffalo Trace
Brand – Weller
Selection – N/A
ABV – 67.25%
Age – 12 Years
Nose – Huge blast of cherry, cinnamon, brown, sugar, cherry pie. Some air time really brings out the toasted oak, chocolate, fresh morning dew. Cherry starts to turn slightly tart.
Taste – Pretty thick, more cherry pie, vanilla extract, maple syrup, cinnamon bun filling
Finish – Heat grows but it is controlled. Lots of cinnamon redhots though, a bit of bread dough. More cherry sneaks in. Have I mentioned cherry in this review? Embers linger but it really does not drink that hot. Very manageable
Score: 7
Would I buy a bottle? At retail? Of course. Maybe up to $200. But the realistic secondary price? No way
Thoughts: It makes sense that this is part of the BTAC collection as it really is great whiskey. Complex but structured and in your face but contained. There wasn’t a whole lot to me that screamed wheater outside of the cinnamon and the doughy nature of the finish. Had you told me it was GTS, I’d have believed you with the amount of cherry on this. Not worth secondary, but still very delicious.