Whether you are new to the world of bourbon and whiskey or a seasoned hunting and tasting enthusiast, you have probably by now heard of Weller Bourbon Whiskey. Distilled by the very popular, and some might even say the over-hyped Buffalo Trace Distillery, this hard-to-find brand in certain areas of the United States, is now even more exclusive thanks to the very popular show premier in 2022. During the season five opening episode of Yellowstone, one of the main charters, Beth Dutton, pours a bottle of Weller 12-Year-Old throughout several scenes. Although this is not the exact bottle I am reviewing today, this show has had impacts across the entire product line-up now, at least it has here in Colorado. Today’s review comes from the Buffalo Trace Distillery and is of their baseline product, Weller Special Reserve (Green Label).

From the Buffalo Trace website: The Original Wheated Bourbon Whiskey features an exceptionally smooth taste, substituting wheat for rye grain. Bottled at 90 proof, this bourbon stands out with its burnt orange color. Its softer flavor notes make this bourbon great for sipping or making cocktails. A sweet nose with a presence of caramel. Tasting notes of honey, butterscotch, and a soft woodiness. It’s smooth, delicate and calm. Features a smooth finish with a sweet honeysuckle flair.

Now whether you love or hate Buffalo Trace, I do not understand how you could hate a distillery but to each their own, they have mentioned some very exciting news over the past several years. On February 10, 2023, the Buffalo Trace Distillery celebrated the grand opening of its new 40-foot-high stillhouse which will add approximately 60,000 gallons of production per day! So, why is this exciting you ask? Well, many enthusiasts, such as myself, believe that this increase in production, mixed with the recently announced news of new distribution services across the nation, will optimistically help with the lack of products in states such as Colorado. Hopefully, with more supply and what I believe to be a coming decrease in demand, due to inflation and recession, those highly sought-after and enjoyable bottles of Weller, Buffalo Trace Antique Collections, and others might be more obtainable.

This bottle of bourbon whiskey, and other Weller products, are indeed quite hard to find in NoCo. This is only the 2nd Weller bottle I have owned and over the past three years, I have only seen Weller Special Reserve a handful of times with a price range from $40 to $120. In fact, in NoCo I have only ever seen Weller Special Reserve; except for once seeing a Weller C.Y.P.B. (White Label) for $600 and gladly passed on purchasing it. Overall, this is a delightful bourbon whiskey, but I am not sure it deserves “special” in its title. Very simple on the nose with those typical notes of bourbon with a touch of fruit added, these notes perfectly translate to the palate. This bottle would be perfect for anyone just starting to enjoy bourbon or as a delightful daily/weekly pour; especially over ice in my case. I can definitely understand the hype of this product line and why this bottle has been a leader in the industry for so long. With that said, let’s get our taste on!

• Nose: Vanilla, Caramel, Honey, and Sweet Fruits (Predominantly Apple)
• Palate: Just like the Nose! Vanilla, Caramel, Honey, Sweet Fuji Apple with the Addition of Oak Notes
• Finish: Medium In Length with Notable Oak and a tad of Heat on the Tongue, Ending in Vanilla and Fruitiness
• 2023 MSRP: $23
• 2023 National Average: $69
• Proof: 90
• My Rating: Mix It! (This is a great average bourbon meat, but with a nice large ice cube, I might give this a rating of Drink It!)

Please remember, drinking bourbon is a personal adventure, so do not be afraid to drink it neat, with ice, or add some water. It’s your bourbon, you bought it, and you should enjoy it how you want to enjoy it!

Cheers! Prost! Sláinte!

Bourbon Bossman