Description
The 2025 William Larue Weller is a standout release in the Antique Collection, offering full power and mature expression thanks to its uncut, unfiltered format and wheated mash bill. With its high proof and refined wheated character, it provides a rare combination of intensity and sweetness—designed for thoughtful sipping, not casual mixing.
Origins & Craftsmanship
From the Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky, this bourbon is part of the annual Antique Collection line-up. The William Larue Weller bottling uses the distillery’s wheated mash bill (in place of rye) and is filled at barrel proof after extended maturation. The 2025 release is bottled at approximately 129 proof (64.5% ABV) and is hand-bottled, uncut and unfiltered. It draws from well-aged barrels selected for their depth, concentration and character, making it one of the most anticipated bourbons of the year.
Critics Reviews
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A detailed review by craft-whiskey journalist Eric Burke described this 2025 edition as “a rich, full-bodied wheated bourbon — vanilla beans and maple syrup dominate the nose, followed by toasted oak and tobacco; the palate shows dried figs, caramel, honey-sweet wheat grain, and finishes with warming white pepper and leather.”
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Spirits writer Orlando Lima commented that “despite the 129 proof, Weller ’25 drinks smoother than many lesser-proof bourbons — the wheat mash bill gives an inherent sweetness and the long aging keeps the oak from dominating.”
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Collectors’ commentary highlight it as “a benchmark wheated bourbon for serious bourbon drinkers and collectors alike — potent, deep and character-filled.”
Tasting Profile
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Nose: Rich golden-amber; aromas of vanilla syrup, maple candy, toasted wheat bread, leather and subtle tobacco.
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Palate: Full-bodied with bold presence. Flavours of caramel-toffee, dried figs and dates, wheat grain sweetness, toasted oak, and a hint of dark chocolate. The proof opens gradually, revealing warm spice, nutmeg and soft pepper.
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Finish: Long and warming; lingering wheat sweetness gives way to oak tannin, tobacco leaf and a gentle echo of leather and spice.
Quick Overview
| ABV / Proof | Origin / Region | Mash Bill / Production | Aging / Maturation | Aromas & Flavors | Style / Identity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ~64.5% ABV / 129 proof | Kentucky, USA (Buffalo Trace Distillery) | Wheated bourbon (no rye) | Aged well beyond typical entry bourbons; hand-selected barrels | Vanilla, maple, fig, wheat grain, toasted oak, leather | Premium, limited-edition wheated bourbon; intense, age-worthy |
Reviews
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