Weller Single Barrel Bourbon

Last year on one of my many business trips to the Phoenix, AZ area I had to entertain some clients and took them to a very nice, small steakhouse in Tempe. On their whiskey shelf stood some very prominent whiskies I wanted to try including several editions of Blood Oath, some EH Taylors and of course, Weller Single Barrel. I did have a pour, but a bustling steakhouse while trying to conduct business is hardly the place for proper whiskey tasting. I remember telling myself that I had to buy a bottle some day and have a proper taste at home. I didn't realize how insanely expensive this and CYPB were in the secondary market. But now, with availability starting to ease up for Buffalo Trace / Sazerac offerings I had an opportunity to purchase a bottle of Weller Single Barrel to call my very own. Yes... it was very expensive. But perhaps not as expensive as one might think. Is it worth the cost of admission? If I'm going to drop the kind of money I did on this bottle of bourbon, it had better be one of the best Damn bourbons in the world. ( Ironically, this was an impulse buy as I originally went in for a bottle of Elmer T Lee which I do actually consider one of the best bourbons in the world. Updated review of that one to follow ). The nose is all Weller. Sweet, a bit fruity but somehow deeper than 12 and less hot than Full Proof or Antique. Its balanced and smells delicious. Cherry and citrus peel give way to some caramel and oak. That oak isn't charred however so the usual tannic tinge from other bourbons is absent. What a taste. Weller Single Barrel is soft, sweet and such an easy drink. Sweet cherries underwrite the the majority of the taste. The taste isn't cloying but then again, I've not known really any Wellers to be that extreme. Caramel and cocoa powder commandeer at mid taste as they fade into the finish. As that finish settles in a bit of baking spiciness pokes its head through, riding on the back of drier, more tannic oak and leather. You do still get some cherry in that finish but its a little more bitter sweet than bright and vibrant. Wow, you really do get the full gamut of flavors here. I hate that Weller has been so allocated that we're forced to fork out such high prices for offerings like this Single Barrel and CYPB. But the hype is justified ( not a popular opinion but oh well ). This one earns a rare 5 out of 5 for me because its complex, there are absolutely no harsh or jarring tastes or smells within this entire bourbon. Delicious in every way imaginable.

Drinking this neat, bar pour. I am trying this so others may smarten up a bit before they unload their wallets on this stuff. I really am a big fan of weller at retail but as soon as soon we start talking about secondary, I throw my hands up. This is not worth your secondary pricing so if you need that bit of input before reading on, you can close this review and SIP on something else :) I am not trying to poo poo on weller but I really think it is tater culture and by putting out a SiB, they certainly are self aware. But back to actually giving a tasting review. I get corn, cinnamon, vanilla, and baking spices all at once. It’s hard to say what is dominant in that bunch. Dissecting it further I could compare it to a sticky cinnamon roll without the frosting yet. The mouth has a slight oak and a bitterness that can be a bit overwhelming on the first few sips. The heat is very low. I peg this just under 100 proof but I’ve had a few already tonight so I could be off. Finish has more oak, char, and tobacco. Word on the street is that Weller is pushing SiB instead of FP for 2021. Womp womp. We’ll just have to continue waiting for the SiB FP which in its own rights should be a slam dunk. Till then, buy all the WSR and OWA you can find AT RETAIL.

This bourbon is my definition of perfect. The secondary market value is a joke though as is the secondary market as a whole, but I digress. This single barrel is perfectly balanced with the just right amount of everything that makes a bourbon a bourbon. This has a savoriness that hits my palate just right and has a pleasant and subtle-sweetness that comes from the wheat which I find to be absolutely perfect. I also get cinnamon, caramel, and mild oak. Despite all the Weller’s being made of the same mashbill, this single battle is pulled at 97 proof, which is just right for this particular bourbon IMO.

Very soft caramel, vanilla, orange and citrus nose with no alcohol burn that you have to get around at all. Caramel drizzle, with orange and a bit of banana nut bread taste. Medium soft caramel and orange finish. I was really hoping this wasn't as good as it turned out so I wouldn't want to find it as much but, I would love to find this at MSRP. Instead I run into these assholes that are trying to flip it for $800+. I don't mind trading but, I would never give into the flipping game. Anyways, it's worth a pour.

The nose is very typical of Weller - oak, ripe fruit, vanilla, a touch of leather, all coming across as being very rich. The palate is light and fills the mouth with creamy oak, ripe fruit and a slight black pepper. It is slightly chewy, staying mostly to the back of the mouth. Its not overly deep or complicated, but how full it is is where it shines. The finish is long with a lingering pepper and creamy oak that can be coaxed out with a chew.

Nose - classic vanilla, caramel, butterscotch, baking spices, cinnamon Palate - sweet candied fruit, cinnamon roll, full bodied (but less viscous than OWA), notes of peanut brittle and tiny hint of chocolate Finish - long especially for a 97 proof Quality but not worth the secondary… OWA has greater complexity and better mouthfeel with the added bonus of availability