W.L. Weller Special Reserve is the original wheated bourbon and the accessible entry point to Buffalo Trace's celebrated Weller line — a Kentucky straight bourbon that swaps rye for wheat as the secondary grain, producing an exceptionally soft, sweet, easy-sipping 90-proof profile.
Named for William Larue Weller, the distiller credited with pioneering the use of wheat in place of rye in straight bourbon, Weller Special Reserve carries the same wheated mashbill DNA that made the Weller and Van Winkle names famous. The wheat softens the spice that rye would bring, letting the sweeter caramel, honey, and vanilla notes lead. The result is gentle, rounded, and approachable — equally at home sipped neat, over ice, or as the base of a smooth cocktail.
Tasting Notes
Nose: Sweet caramel with honey and soft vanilla.
Palate: Honey, caramel, vanilla, and light fruit with just a touch of oak — little to no rye spice thanks to the wheated mashbill and gentle proof.
Finish: Smooth and well-rounded with a sweet honeysuckle close.
Specs
Distillery: Buffalo Trace, Frankfort, Kentucky
Style: Kentucky Straight Wheated Bourbon
Mashbill: Wheated (wheat as secondary grain)
Proof: 90 (45% ABV)
Notable awards: Gold — 2019 San Francisco World Spirits Competition; Gold — 2019 New York World Spirits Competition; Gold — 2019 Los Angeles International Spirits Competition
Browse the full W.L. Weller collection at Wooden Cork.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes Weller a wheated bourbon?
Weller uses wheat instead of rye as the secondary grain alongside corn. Wheat is softer and less spicy than rye, so the bourbon leans sweeter and rounder — caramel, honey, and vanilla rather than peppery spice. It's the same wheated style that made the Weller and Van Winkle names famous.
How does Special Reserve compare to other Wellers?
Special Reserve is the entry expression at 90 proof — the softest and most approachable. Antique 107 is higher proof and more intense, the 12 Year adds age, and Full Proof is bottled at barrel entry strength. Special Reserve is the easiest sipper and the most cocktail-friendly of the lineup.
Is Weller related to Pappy Van Winkle?
Yes — both are wheated bourbons produced at Buffalo Trace using a similar wheated mashbill approach, which is why Weller is often described as an accessible introduction to the wheated style the Van Winkle bottles are prized for.
