Home Bourbon Weller Special Reserve

Weller Special Reserve

January 16, 2019 · By Eric · 7.2 / 10
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Whiskey Consensus Score
7.2 /10
Above Average
Score Breakdown
Complexity
6.8
Nose
7
Palate
7.1
Finish
6.8
Value
8.5
Consensus Score
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Nose
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7.2
/ 10
Our Verdict
Above Average

W.L. Weller bottles are the coveted “Wheated” bourbons released by Buffalo Trace Distillery with SR being the lowest priced and most available of the line.

The Good

  • Cost

The Bad

  • Youth
  • Spotty Availability
W.L. Weller Special Reserve

A little background

The W.L. Weller bottles are the coveted “Wheated” bourbons released by Buffalo Trace Distillery with Special Reserve being the lowest priced and most available of the line.  It is non-age stated and comes in at 90⁰.  Anyone familiar with bourbon know of the Weller line and its relation to the high-end Van Winkle bourbon line.  Retail price is around $18.

(Tasted neat from a Glencairn.)

Color in the glass 

Light Gold

Nose

Spirit driven, light and fruity…pear, tangerine, pineapple, lemon grass, and slight vanilla

Palate

Light custard, Pawpaw fruit, lemon, and pineapple. Very little oak influence.

Finish

Short and tart with citrus zest, and vanilla.

In closing

I couldn’t find anything off putting with this bottle and for the most part found the light fruity body to be slightly refreshing.  Despite the name this is nothing “special” just a solid entry level bourbon.

Weller Special Reserve

90 Proof
7.2

Complexity

6.8/10

Nose

7.0/10

Palate

7.1/10

Finish

6.8/10

Value

8.5/10

The Good

  • Cost

The Bad

  • Youth
  • Spotty Availability
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Buffalo Trace Review Wheater

Every bottle on Whiskey Consensus is evaluated across five categories on a 1–100 scale. The five scores are averaged to produce a final overall score out of 10.

Nose
Aroma, complexity & first impressions
Palate
Flavor, balance & mouthfeel
Finish
Length, character & quality
Complexity
Depth, layers & evolution in the glass
Value
Quality relative to retail price
Score Rating What It Means
9.5 – 10.0ExceptionalOne for the history books
9.0 – 9.4OutstandingA benchmark expression
8.5 – 8.9GreatSeek this bottle out
8.0 – 8.4Very GoodAbove average in every way
7.5 – 7.9GoodWorth your money
7.0 – 7.4Above AverageA solid everyday pour
6.5 – 6.9AverageUnremarkable but drinkable
6.0 – 6.4Below AverageHard to recommend
5.5 – 5.9Hard PassBetter options at this price
0.0 – 5.4AvoidNot worth your time or money
Eric
About the Author
Eric
Whiskey Reviewer · Whiskey Consensus  · 79 posts

Eric is a whiskey collector and drinker from Huntington WV that enjoys sharing pours with those around him. You can follow along with his whiskey experiences and contact him via Instagram profile @barrelstrength_eric

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