Credit: Lost Cargo
Weller Special Reserve is a wheated bourbon, meaning it is made with a mash bill that includes wheat as a secondary grain along with corn and malted barley. Traditional bourbons use rye in their mashbill to balance the sweetness of corn, but the use of wheat in the recipe contributes to a softer and smoother flavor profile.
It is bottled at 90 proof (45% alcohol by volume).
William Larue Weller pioneered using wheat rather than rye in the mash bill of his bourbon recipe. Weller’s original wheated recipe bourbon became so popular he was forced to put a green thumbprint on barrels to ensure that customers were receiving the real deal. That green thumbprint lives on today as the green-label Weller release.
Age
Weller Special Reserve is typically aged for around 7 years, although it does not carry an age statement on the bottle. Some older releases featured a 7-year old age statement.
Availability
Weller Special Reserve is considered an entry-level offering in the W.L. Weller brand, making it more accessible and widely available compared to some of the other expressions in the lineup. However, it should be noted that Weller bourbons, including Special Reserve, have gained popularity in recent years, leading to increased demand and occasionally limited availability in certain markets.
Images
Older W.L. Weller Special Reserve bottling with a 7 year age statement on the neck
Credit: Buffalo Trace
