W.L. Weller 12 Year Bourbon Whiskey – 90 Proof (45% ABV) | 750ml

Mature, smooth, and distinctly wheated, W.L. Weller 12 Year Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is an extensively aged expression from the celebrated Weller family produced by Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky. Aged for 12 years and bottled at 45% ABV (90 proof) in a 750ml bottle, this wheated bourbon replaces rye with wheat as its secondary grain, contributing to its soft and approachable character. Notes of lanolin, almond, creamed corn, vanilla, and oak develop into a rich palate with a long, smooth finish accented by cinnamon.

Key Details

• Spirit Type: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Style: Wheated Bourbon
• Age Statement: 12 Years
• Producer: Buffalo Trace Distillery
• Origin: Frankfort, Kentucky, USA
• Mash: Wheated Bourbon Mash
• Alcohol Content: 45% ABV (90 Proof)
• Bottle Size: 750ml
• Barrel Type: New Charred Oak
• Profile: Mature • Smooth • Sweet • Oak Driven

Process & Aging

W.L. Weller 12 Year Bourbon Whiskey is produced by Buffalo Trace Distillery using the Weller family's signature wheated bourbon recipe.

Instead of using rye as the secondary grain alongside corn, Weller uses wheat. This creates a softer foundation for the whiskey and allows flavors of vanilla, caramelized sweetness, fruit, and oak to develop without the more assertive peppery spice typically associated with rye.

After fermentation and distillation, the bourbon is placed into new charred oak barrels and matured for a full 12 years. This extended aging period gives the whiskey considerably more time to interact with the oak, developing deeper color, richer texture, and additional layers of vanilla, nuts, spice, and mature wood.

After 12 years of maturation, Weller 12 Year is bottled at 90 proof, balancing its substantial oak influence with the smooth, rounded character of the wheated bourbon recipe.

Appearance

Deep bronze with rich amber and copper highlights, displaying the mature color developed through 12 years of aging in new charred oak.

Tasting Notes

Nose: Aromas of lanolin, almond, creamed corn, and toasted vanilla, creating a mature combination of sweetness, nuts, grain, and oak.

Palate: Rich and smooth with layers of vanilla, caramelized sweetness, almond, mature oak, and gentle spice. The extended aging provides depth and structure while the wheated mash maintains a rounded texture.

Finish: Long, smooth, and warming with prominent oak and cinnamon, accompanied by lingering vanilla and subtle sweetness.

What Makes It Special

The defining feature of W.L. Weller 12 Year is the combination of a traditional wheated bourbon recipe with a substantial 12-year age statement.

Weller uses wheat instead of rye as its secondary grain, creating the softer and smoother style for which the family has become known. Giving that wheated bourbon a full 12 years in new charred oak adds another dimension, introducing significantly more mature wood character, nuttiness, vanilla, and spice.

At 90 proof, Weller 12 Year is not designed around high-proof intensity. Instead, the emphasis is on maturity, balance, and the interaction between the soft wheated mash and extended barrel aging.

Within the Weller portfolio, it offers a distinctly different experience from expressions such as Antique 107 and Full Proof. Those bottlings emphasize greater proof and intensity, while Weller 12 Year places extended maturation at the center of the experience.

The combination of its 12-year age statement, Buffalo Trace provenance, wheated mash bill, and limited availability has made Weller 12 Year one of the most sought-after expressions in the W.L. Weller family.

How to Enjoy

W.L. Weller 12 Year Bourbon Whiskey is ideally enjoyed neat in a whiskey or Glencairn-style glass, allowing its mature aromas to gradually open.

Letting the bourbon rest for several minutes after pouring can reveal additional layers of vanilla, almond, grain, oak, and spice.

It can also be enjoyed over a large ice cube or with a small amount of water. However, given its 12-year age statement and 90-proof bottling strength, Weller 12 Year is particularly well suited for slow sipping and comparing alongside other expressions from the Weller family.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the alcohol content of W.L. Weller 12 Year?

W.L. Weller 12 Year Bourbon Whiskey is bottled at 45% ABV (90 proof).

How long is Weller 12 Year aged?

As its name indicates, W.L. Weller 12 Year carries a 12-year age statement, meaning the bourbon has been matured for at least 12 years.

Is Weller 12 Year a wheated bourbon?

Yes. Weller 12 Year is a wheated Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey. Wheat is used instead of rye as the secondary grain, contributing to the softer character associated with Weller.

Who makes Weller 12 Year?

W.L. Weller 12 Year is produced by Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky.

What does Weller 12 Year taste like?

The official profile features aromas of lanolin, almond, creamed corn, and toasted vanilla, followed by a rich, smooth palate and a long finish with oak and cinnamon.

What is the difference between Weller 12 Year and Weller Special Reserve?

Both use the Weller wheated bourbon recipe and are bottled at 90 proof, but Weller 12 Year carries a 12-year age statement. Weller Special Reserve does not carry an age statement. The extended maturation of the 12 Year produces a more mature, oak-driven profile.

What is the difference between Weller 12 Year and Antique 107?

Weller 12 Year emphasizes extended maturation, carrying a 12-year age statement and a 90-proof bottling strength. Weller Antique 107 is bottled at a higher 107 proof and does not carry a current age statement, creating a more intense and higher-proof interpretation of Weller's wheated bourbon style.

What size bottle is this?

This listing includes one 750ml bottle of W.L. Weller 12 Year Bourbon Whiskey.

Pricing & Availability

This listing includes one 750ml bottle of W.L. Weller 12 Year Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, aged for 12 years and bottled at 90 proof (45% ABV). Available now while supplies last.

Brand Story

The W.L. Weller name honors William Larue Weller, a prominent figure in 19th-century Kentucky whiskey history whose name became closely associated with bourbon made using wheat rather than rye as the secondary grain.

The wheated recipe became the foundation of the Weller style, creating bourbons known for a softer, smoother character that emphasizes sweetness, vanilla, fruit, and oak rather than the sharper spice commonly associated with rye.

Today, W.L. Weller is produced by Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky. The Weller portfolio explores this wheated bourbon tradition through different proofs, ages, barrel selections, and maturation techniques.

W.L. Weller 12 Year is distinguished by its emphasis on time. With a full 12 years of maturation and a balanced 90-proof bottling strength, it combines the softness of Weller's wheated mash with the deeper vanilla, nut, cinnamon, and oak characteristics developed through extended aging.