Whiskey Review: W.L. Weller Special Reserve Bourbon

Introduction

Today, we’re reviewing W.L. Weller Special Reserve, the entry-level wheated bourbon in the Weller lineup from Buffalo Trace. This 90-proof bourbon has become one of the most talked-about bottles in the whiskey community—not necessarily for what’s inside, but for the price, availability, and hype surrounding it.

Once a humble $23–$25 bottle, Weller Special Reserve now sits at around $28 in states like Ohio… if you can find it. In many markets, it’s treated like allocated gold, retailing for $50 or more, with some stores pushing it into the $80+ range. That’s led to a lot of conversation in the whiskey world about whether this bottle lives up to the hype, or if it’s just riding the coattails of its more acclaimed siblings like Weller Antique 107 and Weller 12.

Jining us for today's tasting is longtime friend of the show Lee Diaz of ReserveBar. So, how does the actual whiskey hold up? We poured a fresh sample and sat down to give it a proper re-evaluation.

Nose

Brad: This nose is there. It exists. It has an essence. It’s nice. It’s fine. There’s honey, some vanilla. For me, it got a little hint of grapefruit—just barely there. It’s a nice, pleasant, average wheated nose. I didn’t get much cherry on it, which I want to get out of a wheated nose.
Score: 7/10

Bob: I was pleasantly surprised. I wouldn’t necessarily call it complex, and it doesn’t have the cherry cola note we typically get on wheated bourbon. There’s a bit of spiciness that I wasn’t expecting, more fruity top notes, gentle herbs. I get a little apple. Especially for a $30 bottle, I think it’s really nice.
Score: 7.5/10

Lee: When you put it in context as a $30 wheated bourbon, the nose says: "Hi, I’m bourbon." It gives you standard cinnamon sugar, a little oak, a little citrus, maybe the essence of orange. Nothing is dynamic. This is a good, standard bourbon.

Taste

Brad: Getting into the palate is where you really experience the price of it all. This is a very standard, somewhat boring lineup: caramel, vanilla, a little bit of brown sugar. The honey kind of sticks around as something unique. It’s fine.
Score: 6.5/10

Bob: Surprisingly, I do not like this much. On the very tip of my tongue: green apple. A ton of Granny Smith apple right up front. But then immediately kicking it back, it’s just bitter. Bitter oak with a layer of apple peel dancing over it. I wish there was more sweetness to round it out.
Score: 6/10

Lee: I think the palate is probably my favorite part of this whiskey. I get almost a candied apple, a little marshmallow velvety texture, some chocolate, but then that rolls into 90% cacao and the finish breaks it all. The astringency really kicks in at the end.

Finish

Brad: The bitterness comes through on the finish. It’s almost like pepper that’s a little too strong. It gets oaky. The caramel and honey dissipate. It definitely ends on a sour note for me.
Score: 6/10

Bob: It tips way too herbal for me, almost piney. Really bitter. In a weird way, I kind of prefer the finish to the palate because it’s fully what this whiskey is. Be your authentic self.
Score: 6/10

Lee: On the finish, I’m maybe even lower. I’m at a 5. The finish needs more. There are so many better 90-proof bourbons out there with long-lasting finishes that draw you back in. This one just says: put me in a cocktail and let’s go party.

Balance

Bob: Fairly well-balanced in that no point really stood out, but that’s also the issue. It’s just flat all the way across. There are other bourbons in this price point with much more well-roundedness. Even 6 feels generous here.
Score: 6/10

Brad: I’m at the same spot. I don’t think there’s enough here to get pumped about. It tells you what it is and sticks with it, but I don’t enjoy what it is.
Score: 6/10

Lee: Balance-wise, nothing here excited me. I’d rather mix this up and not think too hard about it. That’s kind of the level we’re working with.

Value

Brad: $28 in Ohio. But I could buy Cooper’s Craft 100 for $30 or Larceny for $29.99. I’d much prefer either of those. Even just looking at the Buffalo Trace portfolio, Benchmark Top Floor is better and cheaper. Rebel 100 is a steal at $20. There’s no effort here to make this worthy of allocation.
Score: 4.5/10

Bob: Even at $28, it’s not really $28. You’ll probably pay $50–$80, depending on where you live. It’s artificially scarce. They could be putting more effort into making it better, and they don’t. That makes it hard for me to recommend.
Score: 4/10

Lee: At $25–$30, I’d call it a 7–7.5. Not even for the whiskey—just for the perception. People see it on your shelf and think you know your stuff. But at $60, $80, $90? It’s a 2. The value really depends on where and how you get it.

Final Scores

Bob: 29.5/50
Brad: 30/50
Average: 29.75/50

Weller Special Reserve falls well below our recommendation threshold of 35/50. It’s not a bad whiskey, but it’s also not a memorable one. If you find a pour at the bar for under $10 and you’ve never tried it, go for it. But don’t waste your time chasing this bottle.

There are plenty of other excellent bourbons in the $20–$30 range (especially Cooper’s Craft 100, Larceny, Rebel 100, or Benchmark Top Floor) that deliver more flavor, consistency, and value without the hassle of allocation hype. Weller Antique 107? That’s a different story. But Special Reserve? Skip the hunt.