W.L. Weller Bourbon

W.L. Weller is Buffalo Trace's wheated bourbon line, made with the same wheated mashbill used for Pappy Van Winkle and aged in the same warehouses. That shared DNA earned it the nickname, and it delivers the soft, honeyed, caramel-led profile wheated fans love at far more accessible prices, which is exactly why shelves empty the moment allocations land.

Special Reserve (green label, 90 proof) is the approachable entry. Antique 107 adds heat and spice at 107 proof. Weller 12 Year brings age-driven oak and depth, Full Proof is bottled at its 114 barrel-entry proof, Single Barrel showcases individual casks, and C.Y.P.B. was crafted from an enthusiast-voted recipe. Each step up trades softness for intensity and scarcity.

Wheated bourbon demand exploded on the back of Pappy Van Winkle, and Weller shares its recipe with a fraction of the fame but the same limited stocks. Allocations are small, stores ration bottles, and secondary prices climbed accordingly. Buying from a retailer with real inventory saves the raffle entries and store-hopping.

For a first bottle, Antique 107 is the enthusiast consensus: bold, jammy, and unmistakably wheated. If you prefer gentler pours, start with Special Reserve; if you want the closest experience to Van Winkle, the 12 Year's decade-plus of oak is the pick, and many drinkers blend 12 Year and Antique at home to approximate Pappy's profile.

Limited expressions such as Full Proof, Single Barrel, C.Y.P.B., and the Daniel Weller releases attract strong collector interest because production is limited and availability varies widely. Some enthusiasts collect the full lineup; others focus on specific proofs or releases. Keep sealed bottles upright and away from sunlight, and retain any original packaging.