W.L. Weller 12 Year Old
Honeysuckle
0 385
Review by @markjedi1
- Nose~
- Taste~
- Finish~
- Balance~
- Overall85
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- Brand: W. L. Weller
- Type: American
- ABV: 45%
Let us return to the Buffalo Trace Distillery for this W.L. Weller. It is special because, next to the obligatory 51% corn, the small grains are not rye, but wheat and it also matured for 12 years, which is long to American standards. The bourbon is named after a distiller from the early days of Kentucky, William Larue Weller, who produced this wheated bourbon for the first time in 1849.
Oh, my , this is something else! The nose has corn, of course, but this is complex. Almond oil, toasted oak, honeysuckly, vanilla, wild berries. Burnt sugar, thym, mint. Very aromatic!
It is slightly oily and the wheat gives it a nice, soft attack. Midpalate, the spices speak. Cinnamon, pepper, nutmeg. Some coconut, even. Juicy.
The medium long, slightly drying finish remains sweet and spicy and ends in a note of toasted oak.
This W.L. Weller 12 Year Old won a gold medalle in 2003 at the Wines & Spirits Competition, but unfortunately it is no longer being made. Pity, for this is truly good stuff.
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I really enjoyed your review. I would have loved to taste that one! I had a dram of the new WLW yesterday and I found one of the best nutmeg note I ever encountered but I don't think it was as complex and rewarding as the old one if I based my opinion on your review. I hope you'll get a chance to review the new release soon, for me the wood forming the backbone of this whisky is very noble. I think you would enjoy it.