W. L. Weller

W.L. Weller is the original wheated bourbon — the product line at Buffalo Trace Distillery that replaced rye with wheat as the secondary grain in the bourbon mashbill, producing a softer, sweeter, and more approachable character than traditional high-rye bourbons. The wheated recipe was developed by William Larue Weller and carried forward by the Stitzel-Weller Distillery, eventually landing at Buffalo Trace where it remains one of the most allocated and sought-after bourbon lineups in American whiskey.

Weller and Pappy Van Winkle share the same wheated mashbill — both produced at Buffalo Trace from the same wheat-forward recipe. The difference is age and allocation tier: Pappy expressions are aged longer (10–23 years) and released in far smaller quantities. Because Weller uses the same flavor DNA as Pappy at a fraction of the price and availability, it has become the most-searched wheated bourbon alternative and one of the most allocated collections in everyday retail.

Special Reserve (90 proof, no age statement — “Weller Green,” the entry point and most widely distributed expression, vanilla, caramel, light oak; available 375ml through 1.75L). Antique 107 (107 proof, no age statement — vanilla, toffee, baking spice, warm oak with significantly more intensity than Special Reserve; 750ml and 1L). 12 Year (90 proof, minimum 12 years — deep caramel, dried fruit, oak, dark chocolate; Double Gold 2019 San Francisco World Spirits Competition; 750ml through 1.75L). Full Proof (114 proof — bottled at entry proof, no water added, the most concentrated wheated expression in the standard lineup). Single Barrel (97 proof — individual barrel, fruit-forward with layered oak and spice that varies by barrel). C.Y.P.B. (95 proof — annual limited release, hand-selected single barrel, one of the rarest standard Weller releases each year). 18 Year Straight Wheat Whiskey (classified as Straight Wheat Whiskey rather than bourbon — wheat is the primary grain; extraordinarily rare, 18-year age statement). Daniel Weller Emmer Wheat (emmer wheat as the secondary grain — ultra-rare experimental expression representing the future direction of the Weller program).

Wooden Cork regularly selects private single barrel picks from the Weller lineup — primarily Full Proof and Antique 107 expressions, often non-chill filtered. Recent selections have included collaborations with Freddie Johnson — Bourbon Hall of Famer and Buffalo Trace ambassador. Sister barrel bundles pairing two picks from the same aging rick are released periodically. Each year, W.L. Weller and Cohiba release a limited annual collaboration: limited edition Toro cigars, custom ashtrays, humidor sets, and travel gift sets — the only bourbon-branded cigar collaboration of its kind at this level. Wooden Cork also carries a rotating selection of vintage Weller including pre-2010 Old Weller Antique squat bottles (Bernheim distillate 2004 and 2007, 1979 Gold Vein label), the W.L. Weller Millennium Whiskey, and the Antique Reserve 110 Proof 10 Year.

• All Bourbon
• Pappy Van Winkle
• Buffalo Trace Distillery Collection
• William Larue Weller (BTAC)
• Rare & Allocated Bottles
• Bourbon Gifts

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between Weller and Pappy Van Winkle?

Weller and Pappy Van Winkle share the same wheated mashbill — both produced at Buffalo Trace Distillery using wheat as the secondary grain instead of rye. The key differences are age and allocation: Pappy Van Winkle expressions are aged 10–23 years and released in extremely limited quantities, while Weller expressions range from no age statement through 18 years and receive wider (though still allocated) distribution. The shared flavor DNA is why Weller has become the primary wheated bourbon alternative for collectors who can’t find Pappy.

What does “wheated bourbon” mean?

A wheated bourbon replaces rye with wheat as the secondary grain in the bourbon mashbill. Where high-rye bourbons produce spice, dryness, and pepper, wheated bourbons like Weller produce a softer, sweeter, more approachable profile with caramel, vanilla, and gentle fruit. The wheated style is generally considered easier to drink neat and ages very gracefully over long periods — which is why both the Weller 12 Year and the 18 Year Straight Wheat Whiskey reward extended barrel time so well.

What proof is Weller Full Proof and why is it called that?

Weller Full Proof is bottled at 114 proof — the same proof at which the spirit was placed into the barrel for aging. “Full Proof” means no water is added before bottling, so the bottle proof matches the entry proof exactly. This preserves the concentrated wheated character at its most intense: rich vanilla, dark caramel, toasted oak, and warm baking spice without dilution.