William Larue Weller is the kind of bottle that stops you mid-conversation. It's part of the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection — a yearly release that sends bourbon hunters into a frenzy — and the 2016 bottling at 67.7% ABV is one of those pours that reminds you why wheated bourbon has such a devoted following. I've been lucky enough to taste this one, and it absolutely lives up to the hype.
For the uninitiated, Weller bourbons use wheat as their secondary grain instead of rye. Where rye brings spice and bite, wheat tends to deliver a softer, rounder, more approachable profile — even at cask strength. And make no mistake, 67.7% is serious firepower. This is barrel proof bourbon with zero apologies. No water added, no filtering to tame it. What you're getting is exactly what came out of that barrel, and that's the entire point.
The William Larue Weller line is NAS — no age statement — but Buffalo Trace has historically indicated these are aged in the range of roughly ten to twelve years for most releases. That's a significant amount of time in a Kentucky rickhouse, where temperature swings push the spirit deep into charred American oak and pull it back out, layering in caramel, vanilla, and those deep, sticky-sweet notes that bourbon lovers chase. The 2016 release was widely regarded as one of the stronger vintages in the Antique Collection lineup, and at this proof, you're tasting the full, uncut character of the distillate.
Tasting Notes
I won't fabricate specifics here — this is a whisky that deserves honest, first-hand notes rather than guesswork. What I can tell you is that wheated bourbons at barrel proof tend to deliver waves of dark fruit, baking spice, oak tannin, and a richness that coats the glass. At 67.7%, expect heat — but the kind of heat that carries flavour rather than burning it away. A few drops of water will open this up dramatically if you prefer a gentler experience.
The Verdict
At £3,000, this is obviously not an everyday pour. You're paying for scarcity, for the reputation of the Antique Collection, and for a piece of bourbon history that gets harder to find every year. Is it worth it? That depends entirely on what you're after. As a drinking experience, it's exceptional — barrel proof wheated bourbon from one of America's most respected distilleries, from a highly rated vintage. As an investment or a centrepiece for a serious collection, the 2016 William Larue Weller holds its value. I'm giving this a 7.8 out of 10. It's outstanding bourbon by any measure, and the only reason it doesn't score higher is that the price creates expectations that even genuinely great whisky struggles to meet. The liquid is brilliant. The price tag requires you to decide how much that brilliance is worth to you personally.
Best Served
Pour this neat in a Glencairn or a tulip glass at room temperature. Give it five minutes to breathe. If 67.7% ABV hits too hard — and there's no shame in that — add water a few drops at a time until the flavour opens up without losing its intensity. This is not a cocktail bourbon. You wouldn't put a £3,000 bottle into a Manhattan any more than you'd use vintage Champagne for mimosas. Savour it slowly, preferably with company that appreciates what's in the glass.
