Bourbon Review · Weller
W.L. Weller 12 Year
12 Year Wheated Kentucky Straight Bourbon · 90 Proof
⚑ Placeholder review — tasting notes to be updated after the pour.
The Story
Weller 12 Year is what Pappy Van Winkle tastes like before the Van Winkle family finishes it in additional barrels — same mashbill, same distillery, less time, lower price. Or at least, that's what it's supposed to be. In reality it's become nearly as difficult to find as the lower-end Pappys, which is absurd for a 45% bourbon but that's the market. When you do find it at retail, it's one of the most rewarding bottles at the price point: 12 years of Kentucky aging on a wheated mashbill produces a depth and smoothness that's hard to find anywhere near 0.
Nose, Palate & Finish
Nose
Soft and mature — caramel, honey, dried stone fruit, and a gentle toasted oak that speaks to the age. There's a butterscotch richness underneath with a faint floral note. More depth than the Antique 107 despite the lower proof.
Palate
Medium-full body with exceptional smoothness. The 12 years have done their work: the oak is beautifully integrated, the sweetness is restrained and complex, and the wheat character comes through clearly without being simple. Dried apricot, caramel, vanilla, and a gentle spice that the age has softened into something elegant.
Finish
Medium-long and refined. The oak lingers alongside dried fruit and vanilla. No harshness, no abrupt exit — just a graceful fade that makes you want to pour another.