Credit: Buffalo Trace
Daniel Weller is an annual wheated bourbon release from Buffalo Trace Distillery, and is the newest member of the W. L. Weller brand family. When it was announced in June 2023, Buffalo Trace stated that a new limited expression would be released every other year1Press Release, so the next release is expected in 2025.
This experimental, wheated bourbon series is a tribute to Daniel Weller, who continued his family’s tradition of distilling whiskey after settling in Kentucky in 1794.
Released every other year, Buffalo Trace plans to use the Daniel Weller brand to experiment with different varietals of wheat. It is distilled in the E.H. Taylor, Jr. Microstill, designed by Master Distiller Harlen Wheatley.
According to Wheatley, Daniel Weller uses the same wheated bourbon mashbill2The new Daniel Weller 1794 Bourbon bottle looks nothing like we expected – Bourbon Culture as the rest of the Weller lineup, but the specific varietal of wheat will rotate in place of the standard wheat used by Buffalo Trace.
The inaugural release of the Daniel Weller line features Emmer wheat, an ancient Egyptian grain rarely used in modern distillation, which offers a unique flavor profile to the wheated bourbon. There is evidence of Emmer wheat domestication dating back over 6,000 years, and its symbol can be found etched into the Egyptian pyramids. The Daniel Weller Emmer Wheat bourbon was aged for nearly 12 years and is bottled at 94 proof.
Namesake
Daniel Weller is named for the grandfather of William Larue Weller, who played an important role in the history of whiskey. After serving in The Revolutionary War, Daniel Weller settled in Kentucky in 1794 with his family. Following in his father’s footsteps, he began producing whiskey and leased his still to supplement his income.
When Daniel passed away in 1807, he left no will, and his son Samuel had to purchase the stills and equipment to continue the family legacy. Samuel would later pass down the distilling tradition to his son William Larue, who founded W.L. Weller & Sons.
Images
Daniel Weller Emmer Wheat bottle
Credit: Buffalo Trace
