W.L. Weller 12 Year

A little background

I have to say that Weller 12 is at or near the top of the most polarizing whiskies available today, from those that preach the word that it is Baby Pappy (same BT mash bill) to those that dread the current price gauging and say that it really isn’t worth the attention that it gets.  Where am I on the spectrum?  We’ll find out shortly…

Retail price (Ha!) of around $30. 

(Tasted neat from a Glencairn.)

Color in the glass

Medium Amber

Nose

Cherry flavored cigarette, chocolate/cherry cordial, cedar, and backing spices.  It comes off a little hot considering the proof and age.

Palate

Thinner viscosity than anticipated. Still getting the cherry cordial.  Caramel joins the party with a minty undertone.

Finish

Tannic oak asserts itself with lingering tobacco, pine, and caramel.

In closing

Weller 12 is really good whiskey but to me it just comes up short of the lofty heights built up by those that champion the bottle.  What I believe is that Weller 12 was much better before the immense strain that the bourbon boom has put on aging whiskey stock.  It just doesn’t get the choicest barrels after the Van Winkle and the BTAC William Larue Weller barrels have been selected each year, and that’s fine because it’s a $30 bottle and damn good one at that price.