William Larue Weller

[Marvin]

Just checking to see if anybody out there might have tried this uncut, unfiltered wheated bourbon-at 117.9 proof. This is produced by Buffalo Trace. Normally I am not a big fan of wheated bourbon, but I must say this is truly something special. Since I haven't posted for a while, I will be very discreet-here are my thoughts. For the high alcohol content it is not harsh-very pleasant to drink. For a wheated bourbon I find a lot of fruit and find this quite unusual-maybe my taster is changing? I hope not! The finish is quite long and lingering. I would like to hear from what I consider experts on tasting: especially Jeff and Bobby C and also the rest of the gang. I do believe the people of Straightbourbon.com are "the best of the best" when it comes to tasting. Marvin

[marco246]

Hi, Marvin,

I'm not the expert you're looking for, but I did sample this whiskey a few days ago. I had picked it up in Pensacola, FL, while on vacation, paying $50 for it and hoping for the best. I am not disappointed.

I sipped it neat and have not gone back to it to see how it works with water and/or ice. The nose was powerful with a bit of salt. The taste was full, buttery, with violets, char, toffee, and mint on the back of the tongue. The finish is hot, long and magnificent, reminiscent of Kona coffee glazed macadamia nuts.

This is such a good whiskey, I'm now looking for any of the other Wellers. I've heard the 12 year old is outstanding, too.

Cheers,

Mark

[OscarV]

Marvin, yes pick up a bottle it is very, very good. If you get it at $59.00 then that will be even better.

There have been 3 releases and most agree that the 2006 was the best followed by the '07 then the '05.

You can only tell the release dates by their proofs which are,..

2005 121.9

2006 129.9

2007 117.9

[chilidawg7]

I saw 3 bottles (don't recall the proof/year) while hunting the other day at $61.99. Thanks to another SB.com member, I have a bottle already, so I didn't grab one.

I have the 05 and enjoy it greatly. Not quite as stout as the Stagg, but still a quality pour.

[jburlowski]

The 2005 (IMHO) is simply one of the best bourbons I have ever tasted. I'd place the 2006 as a close to the 2006.

The 2007 is also very very good pour although, at ten years old is hardly "antique" and not worth the cost. Unless you have got to have the higher ABV (and are going to drink it that way), buy Weller 12 instead.

[bluesbassdad]

Marvin,

I can't respond to your question.

However, let me say that a few years ago I found your essays on tasting very enjoyable. From them I infer that if you say someone is an expert taster, then s/he most certainly is.

Yours truly,

Dave Morefield

[AVB]

I have to agree that the the 2005 is the best of the three William Larue Wellers but the holy grail is the original W.L. Weller 19 yo from the first BTAC, IMHO of course.

[Virus_Of_Life]

Don't mean to rain on the parade, but someone has to have a differing point of few and as respectable as I found the 05, the '06 blew it out of the water and off the planet IMO! I think I have 4 bottles of it left and every one of them will be hard to open and even harder to finish.

[BourbonJoe]

I agree with Christian. When I first tasted the 2006 I remarked that I thought it was a barrel proof Stitzel-Weller. It was that good.

Joe :usflag:

[gblick]

The only one I've had is the '05, and it tastes very good to me. The '06 must be mind-blowing.

[ILLfarmboy]

I'm with Christian and BourbonJoe. I don't know what you other guys are tasting in the '05 But all I ever got was alcohol and soot and kinda harsh for 121.9. Even after adding a bit of water to tease out other flavors, it just didn't float my boat........

[StraightBoston]

Coincidentally(ish), the 2005 WLW was my selection for the Virtual Blind Tasting #126. Notes [thread=10079]over here[/thread].

I'm looking forward to cracking open my 2006 -- but too many open bottles in front of it!