There are bottles you admire from a distance, and then there are bottles that stop you mid-pour because the sheer intensity demands your full attention. William Larue Weller from the 2014 Antique Collection release is firmly in the second camp. At 70.1% ABV — that's 140.2 proof for anyone keeping score — this is a wheated bourbon that arrives with serious intent.
For context, the William Larue Weller is the uncut, unfiltered expression in Buffalo Trace's annual Antique Collection, and the 2014 bottling has become one of the most sought-after releases in that already legendary lineup. Where standard Weller expressions offer approachable, easy-drinking wheated bourbon, this is the version that strips away every safety net. No chill filtration, no water added, just straight from the barrel to the bottle. The result is a bourbon that hits you with a wall of flavour the moment the cork comes out.
What to Expect
As a wheated bourbon — meaning wheat replaces rye as the secondary grain in the mashbill — you can expect a profile that leans toward richness and sweetness rather than the spice-forward character of a high-rye recipe. But don't mistake "wheated" for "gentle." At 70.1% ABV, this is a full-throttle experience. The wheat softens the edges but the barrel proof amplifies everything else: deep caramel, baking spices, dark fruit, and that unmistakable Buffalo Trace warehouse character. It's big, bold, and uncompromising.
The lack of an age statement is worth noting, but with the Antique Collection releases, Buffalo Trace selects barrels based on flavour profile rather than hitting a specific number. What matters is what's in the glass, and what's in this glass is exceptional.
The Verdict
I'm giving this an 8 out of 10, and I want to be honest about why. The whisky itself is outstanding — the depth, the complexity, the way it rewards patience with a few drops of water. It's one of the finest wheated bourbons I've had the privilege of tasting. But at £3,750, we're deep into collector territory, and that price reflects rarity and hype as much as it does liquid quality. If you're buying this to drink, you're getting a genuinely world-class bourbon. If you're buying it as an investment piece, well, the secondary market has already made that case for you. Either way, the 2014 release earned its reputation honestly — this is a benchmark wheated bourbon at barrel proof, and it delivers on every front.
Best Served
At this proof, water is not optional — it's essential. Add a teaspoon at a time and watch this bourbon open up in stages. Once you've brought it down to somewhere around 50-55% ABV, it becomes remarkably drinkable for something that started life at 70.1%. If you're feeling brave and want to build a cocktail worthy of the bottle, an Old Fashioned with a quarter-ounce of rich demerara syrup and two dashes of Angostura lets the bourbon do the talking while the sweetness tames the proof. But honestly? This is a sipper. Find a comfortable chair, pour two fingers, add your water, and give it the time it deserves.
