Review #417 - Weller Full Proof

Written By Me, My Wife & Whisky

Weller Full Proof bourbon is the Buffalo Trace distillery's high-strength entry in their wheated Weller line. While the distillate goes into the barrel at 57% ABV (114 proof), the strength will generally increase a bit during the aging process in Kentucky due to the levels of environmental heat and humidity. For this Full Proof version, during the bottling process, they add water to dilute the spirit back down to that barrel entry strength.

Because of the higher strength of the bourbon, Buffalo Trace no longer feels the need to chill filter it, so we should get a stronger flavor delivery; there might be a better mouthfeel, too.

While the suggested retail pricing for the Full Proof bourbon is quite reasonable at $50 or $60, this bottle suffers from the same secondary pricing issues as the rest of the Weller line - it isn't uncommon to see this trading for $200+ these days.

Weller Full Proof

USA - Bourbon

Current Locally Available Price: USD 200 (2024, based on recent auction results)

Age Statement: NAS

Strength: 57% ABV

Details: Not chill filtered

Tasting Methodology: Reviewed 3 times (twice blind) over 4 months from a sample. Tasted in a Glencairn glass each time, rested 10-15 minutes

Nose: Oaky but also some sweetness up front - vanilla, hints of oatmeal. That oak is dense, bringing scents of polish, barbecue, and toast; leather arrives in time, as well as brown sugar and cinnamon. Graham cracker and creme brulee add more baking notes; in the background, there's just a hint of that grape or cherry fruit from the distillate.

Palate: A medium thickness mouthfeel, and again, lots of vanilla and brown sugar to start, though we quickly dive back into intense oak flavors: old wood, tannins, barbecued wood. Cherries and red grapes grow a little stronger, and there's a hint of syrup; slightly simple, but pleasantly warming and sweet.

Finish: Warmth lingers from the strength and that savory oak, and it grows more subtle into the finish. Leather and tart grape juice are balanced by sweet notes like cake icing and a red fruit aftertaste; it's a medium-long finish.

Final Note: This is a nice bourbon - good strength, and while it does have a softer character due to the use of wheat, there's enough boldness from the oak to create a balance experience. Sometimes a little subtle and simple, but lots of classic bourbon flavors. For us, this is one of the better options in the Weller lineup.

Value at MSRP would be quite good, but it's not as great at secondary pricing; this is a bourbon that we would probably pay up to $100 for, but past that point, there are better options that it's competing with.

Our Average Rating: 7.5 / 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: 5.10

About Us: We're a husband and wife review team living in the Midwest United States. Generally, our reviews and tasting notes will be a compilation of both of our experiences with a whisky over several tasting sessions.

Me, My Wife & Whisky
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