Review #282 - Weller Antique 107
W. L. Weller Antique 107, or "Old Weller Antique,' is bottled at 107 proof (53.5% ABV), and it utilizes Buffalo Trace's wheated mashbill - it shares that distinction with the rest of the Weller line, along with William Larue Weller and the Van Winkle bourbons. The mashbill isn't publicly disclosed by the distillery.
There's no age given on this bottle either, but speculation often puts this in the 6 to 8 year range. It's quite difficult to find in some (or most) places, but there's plenty available on the auction sites, if you're willing to pay for it.
Weller Antique 107
USA - Bourbon
Current Locally Available Price: USD 135 (2024 - based on recent auction results)
Age Statement: NAS
Strength: 53.5% ABV
Tasting Methodology: Reviewed 3 times over 2 years; bottles at 50%, 90%, and 100% fill levels at times of review. Tasted in a Glencairn glass each time, rested 10-15 minutes
Nose: Nice spicy oak notes: wood spice, nutmeg, a little bit of cinnamon and pepper. Nice sweetness comes after that, with vanilla and brown sugar, as well as a decent amount of sweet, medicinal cherry. Hints of maple and oak tannins here and there; it's a pleasant, nicely balanced nose.
Palate: A medium thickness mouthfeel, some oily texture, but also a bit restrained. A mixture of sweet and dry flavors: caramel, cherries, grape juice, and vanilla are balanced by oaky tannins, cinnamon, and a bit of pepper. With time, more fruit comes forward: orange, along with some flat cherry coke. Baking notes of molasses, caramel brittle, and black pepper grow stronger later.
Finish: A medium-long finish, with plenty of strong oaky influence. Tannins and hints of tobacco mingle with sweeter flavors: vanilla from the oak, sweet orange fruit, cherry, and some cola. Somewhat soft texture, and in the aftertaste, hints of sweet oatmeal.
Final Note: This is quite a nice bourbon - a little more restrained than we expected given the strength, but we actually like it for that. It has a lot of those classic sweet cherry and grape notes you expect from Buffalo Trace distillate, but the stronger oak influence adds a nice balance with peppery flavor and tannins. Nice soft texture - this is a good bourbon.
At the MSRP around $50, this would be an excellent value purchase; unfortunately, it's quite difficult to find for a price like that. At a more reasonably available price of $120 or more, value is a bit more mediocre.
Our Average Rating: 7.2 / 10
In the current whisky landscape of increasing prices and variable quality, we've added a value rating to our reviews that relates to the score and the available pricing of each whisky. This roughly equates to a 0-10 scale; no reviews so far have exceeded a score of 10, although it is technically possible for the formula to produce a value rating higher than 10 with a high enough score and low enough price.
Value Rating: 5.61
Check out our other Buffalo Trace reviews:
Review #156 - Eagle Rare 10 Year
