Today we’re talking about one of the most hyped bottles in the Buffalo Trace lineup: Weller 12 Year. This is the bottle people line up for, enter lotteries for, and pay way over retail for on the secondary market. The question is whether what’s in the glass lives up to all that noise.
This one sits at 90 proof with an MSRP of $70. Finding it at that price is its own challenge, and that plays a big part in how I look at this bottle.
The Weller Name
Weller is Buffalo Trace’s wheated bourbon line. Instead of using rye as the secondary grain, wheated bourbons swap in wheat, which tends to produce a softer, sweeter profile. Buffalo Trace doesn’t officially disclose the mashbill, but the wheated recipe is a big part of why Weller has the reputation it does.
The lineup ranges from Special Reserve and Antique 107 all the way up to Full Proof, Single Barrel, and C.Y.P.B. Weller 12 sits in an interesting spot. It carries the longest age statement in the core lineup, but it’s bottled at one of the lowest proofs.
That combination is exactly what defines this bottle, for better and for worse.
On the Nose
The nose on this one is great. Right away you get the cherry note I always pick up from Weller products. It’s the signature of the line, and it’s front and center here.
Brown sugar and caramel follow, with a hint of cinnamon rounding things out. There’s very little ethanol burn, which is what you’d expect at 90 proof. It’s easy, inviting, and a genuinely pleasant nose.
On the Palate
That cherry from the nose carries right over as the first note on the palate. Then toasted oak creeps in, letting you know this bottle has some real age behind it. A vanilla note follows close behind.
The interesting note I always seem to get from Weller products is Spree candy. That tangy, fruity sweetness shows up here too, and it’s a fun one to look for if you’ve never noticed it before.
Here’s the big issue, though. This bottle feels thin. The low proof point really holds it back. The notes themselves are great, but the depth just isn’t there. It’s all flavor and not much weight behind it.
The Finish
The finish is buttery smooth, with toasted oak and cinnamon hanging around. It’s easy drinking from start to finish, and nothing about it is harsh.
It just lacks the depth of other bourbons in this price range, and that gap gets a lot wider when you consider what people are actually paying for it on the secondary market.
The Verdict
Weller 12 Year is a good bourbon. The nose is inviting, the cherry and Spree candy notes are classic Weller, and the finish is as smooth as they come. But at 90 proof, it’s missing the body and depth that would make those 12 years really shine.
If you can find it at or near MSRP, it’s worth trying. At secondary prices, though, there are a lot of bottles that deliver more for less, including some within the Weller lineup itself.
Score: 75/100.
Great flavor, thin delivery. Enjoy it if one falls into your lap, but don’t chase it at a premium.
Summary
- Distillery: Buffalo Trace
- Mashbill: Undisclosed (wheated)
- Age: 12 Years
- Proof: 90
- Price: $70 (MSRP)
- Nose: Cherry, brown sugar, caramel, a hint of cinnamon
- Palate: Cherry, toasted oak, vanilla, Spree candy
- Finish: Buttery smooth, with toasted oak and cinnamon, but lacking depth
- Score: 75/100
