Weller Full Proof

Producer: Buffalo Trace Distillery, Frankfort, KY

Distiller: Buffalo Trace Distillery, Frankfort, KY

Age: No Age Statement, probably 6-8 years

Bottled: 2020

Proof: 114

Finish: None

This is the full proof version of Weller, the standard wheated bourbon line from Buffalo Trace. It's always bottled at 114 proof. I take a slight issue with that, because full proof doesn't mean barrel proof. Full proof is the entry proof, when the barrel was filled, whereas barrel proof is the exit proof, when the whiskey was dumped. The bourbon is watered down to the desired proof before bottling. At any rate, it's stronger than any other Weller product, with the exception of William LaRue Weller from the BTAC. It shares the same mash bill as the Van Winkle bourbons. Weller Full Proof is a few years younger than Old Rip Van Winkle 10 Year, but it's bottled 7 proof points higher. The Pappy hype has driven up the price of Van Winkle 10 to over $1,000. The Weller hype has driven up the price of Weller Full Proof to several hundred dollars.

Color: Light auburn

Body: Full

Nose: Cotton candy, cherry, sweet caramel corn, some tropical notes like pineapple

Palate: Vanilla forward, warming spice, black pepper, cinnamon, less fruity and less sweet, but black cherry predominates and explodes with water

Finish: long, warm baking spice, cherry lingers

Score: King

Song: Shot Full Of Rock - Ace Frehley

Score another one for value. Weller Full Proof doesn't hit the heights of Van Winkle 10, but it was never intended to. It's supposed to be a moderately high proofed wheated bourbon which you can drink every day. At that task, it succeeds quite well, and at a quarter of the price. It starts off with vanilla and caramel corn. There is a unique tropical note in the way of pineapple. Then come the spices with moderate heat. Black pepper and baking spices provide a tingling warmth. Then comes the fruity black cherry that lingers all the way to the end. That cherry flavor just explodes when a few drops of water are added. The extra ABV gives Weller Full Proof a lot more kick. So, I recommend pairing it with Shot Full Of Rock by Ace Frehley. Still, it lacks the depth and the richness of the Van Winkle bourbons, probably due to its youthfulness. That brings me to my major complaint with Weller Full Proof. It needs more aging. That extra time spent in the barrel would pull more caramelized flavors from the wood. This tasting experience gave me the incentive to try my hand at blending. Watch my video where I blend equal parts of Weller 12 and Weller Full Proof, trying to up the aged barrel notes. It made a big difference. At any rate, Weller Full Proof is a great wheated bourbon with extra kick, at a more reasonable price. Grab yourself a bottle. You won't regret it.