Bourbon Review · Weller
W.L. Weller 12 Year
12 Year Wheated Kentucky Straight Bourbon · 90 Proof
The Story
Weller 12 is supposed to be Pappy before the Van Winkles finish it in extra barrels — same mashbill, same distillery, less time, lower price. That's the theory anyway. In reality it's gotten almost as hard to find as the cheap Pappys, which is ridiculous for a 90-proof bourbon, but that's the market we live in. When you do find it at retail, it's genuinely one of the better bottles around $45–50 — twelve years on a wheated mashbill gives it a depth that's hard to find anywhere near that price.
Nose, Palate & Finish
Nose
Soft and mellow — caramel, honey, a little dried fruit, and enough oak that you can tell it's been sitting a while. Smells older than a lot of bourbons at this price.
Palate
Smooth, medium-full body. The sweetness is there but it's not loud — caramel and dried fruit with a little spice the age has rounded off. Easy to sip slow.
Finish
Medium-long, smooth, no rough edges. Oak and a little dried fruit hang around, then it fades out gracefully.