Weller 12 Year Bourbon

So i grabbed my first ever bottle of this Weller 12 from Europe at a good price. Ive alrways heard that this is weak and overrated but as always it is best to try for yourself. And wow am I glad that I did. Instead of the thin and watery dram I’ve been told to expect, I found a perfectly balanced bourbon with an incredible nose, great palate and short but tasty finish. It is bourbon 101 really, with vanilla, caramel (presenting more as pancake syrup), oak and red fruit, in this case strawberry which I dont come across too often. I have to stress how balanced it was. I understand why people can be disappointed if they spend $250 on this, as the proof undoubtedly caps its potential. But otherwise it is just so perfect. This could convert any bourbon newbie. Also Id say this compares well to other Weller/Van Winkle products that Ive had. This batch was superior to the Van Winkle 12 I’ve tried. I also preferred this to the Weller 107 and Old Rip 10 Ive tried, although 107 is a good deal generally. Just depends if you like more heat and spice. Admittedly this wasn’t close to the Pappy 15 I tried, although if you nose and taste this deeply, the pancake and maple syrup I get off that Pappy 15 is juuuuust starting to develop. You could see this getting there if it sat for 3 more years and was cranked up to 107. Anyway, a very good experience here and I grabbed another so that I could have this around for special occasions the next few years.

NEAT NOSE - Vanilla, Caramel, Oak, and Raspberries PALATE - Velvety smooth and viscous. This bourbon has an amazing mouthfeel. The caramel and oak are the most prominent notes supported by traces of vanilla and a hint of raspberry on the end. This an incredibly easy sipper that goes down like water; not surprising being 90 proof. FINISH - A flash of raspberry with lingering oak and caramel sweetness. BUY? - Absolutely. At SRP, which thankfully is what I got this for. However, if I had to pay more, I’d be willing to pay $60-80 max because of its rarity and how hard it is to get. BUY AGAIN? - Absolutely!! Comparison to Weller Antique 107: I was hoping to not care for this because of the mixed reviews that it gets but this is honestly a very good bourbon for it’s price. In comparison to Antique 107, the 107 is more bright and fruity whereas this one is more oaky, dense, and rich. The Weller 12 also has the better mouthfeel. If I had to choose one, I’d take the Weller 12 but both are great ESPECIALLY at SRP.

⌚️: First opening! Let sit for about 5 minutes. 👀: Light copper flecks with thin wispy legs, doesn't stick too much; 👃: A bit of an artificial scent, cherry, shortbread, and ethanol at the back end; 👅: Alcohol hits you at the outset, immediately gives way to soft sweet shortbread and butterscotch melty flavors, soft and sweet definitely; 🏁: Taste does not linger at all, doesn't want to stick around, very astringent and clean at the end so you can jump onto the next if desired, might not be the most popular opinion but I honestly don't get the hype behind this one, other than the softness of it. Will try next time with a clean palate.

Nose: strawberry, cherry, plum, orange - pretty rich fruit. Some chestnut wood / hazelnut depth there too. A bit of astringency. Flavor: Mostly a very deep muted carmel up front. Very blunted - no sharp notes at all. Almost disappointing until the carmel sweetness starts to really pop mid-pallet. The fruitiness shows up immediately after. Overall very good and approachable...which is why Weller captures such a wide audience. Finish is not very long and there is nothing super interesting here...just very enjoyable in its simplicity. T8ke: 7.6

I love this Bourbon! This expression has all the qualities of a high end whiskey at a reasonable price. I will probably never be fortunate enough to enjoy a glass of Pappy, but i have a hard time believing it can be much better. The predominant flavors i pick up on the nose and mouth in the Weller 12 are orange, maple, vanilla, and spice, which are all blended together in a perfect complementary balance. The sip finishes with just the right amount of warmth on the throat and belly

👃 stroopwaffle 👄 Not spicy, but not super flavorful tbh. If you let it linger on the palate after a sip, there's a little something there and the good news is letting it linger doesn't set your mouth on fire. Smooth 🏁 It's nice. Classic vanilla and sugar from a smooth wheated bourbon. Maybe worth a pour at a bar if you found it, but not worth what you'd pay on secondary for a whole bottle Of note: CYPB is the best wheated bourbon I've ever had. You just very rarely see it