Every year, the Buffalo Trace Distillery releases another edition of their famous uncut and unfiltered William Larue Weller whiskey.
I recently had a chance to try the 2024 William Larue Weller. Having enjoyed previous years, I had a lot of hopes riding on it, and it lived up well to those lofty expectations with its delightful aroma and smooth, balanced flavors.
This article features my in-depth William Larue Weller 2024 review. Before diving into my impressions, here is a little more background information about the William Larue Weller series.
What is William Larue Weller Bourbon?
If you are new to bourbon hunting, William Larue Weller is one of the five releases that are part of the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection (BTAC). The others in this esteemed collection include Eagle Rare 17 Year, George T. Stagg, Sazerac 18 Year, and Thomas H. Handy Sazerac.
The William Larue Weller bourbon whiskey won “Best of Class” North America in the 2024 Global Whisky Challenge (this award went to the 2023 release, specifically).
William Larue Weller is uncut and unfiltered. That means that no chill filtration was used during the bottling process. It is simply at barrel proof (though it seems hotter).
Another property that makes this bourbon whiskey stand out is that instead of being rye-based, it is wheat-based. As a result, it is on the sweeter side. This whiskey was named for the person who pioneered the wheat production method, William Larue Weller.
Every year, if you are able to purchase the William Larue Weller, you receive a release letter. This letter explains that the whiskey was launched when customers requested a barrel strength, well-aged whiskey. So, the drink exists by popular demand.
You can check the back of your release letter for information about which barrels were selected to bottle the 2024 release.
Why is the William Larue Weller Bourbon So Coveted?
One reason the William Larue Weller whiskey is so highly sought-after is because of the wheat-based method used to make it.
The sweet, smooth taste that this process results in truly makes for an exquisite bourbon whiskey that more than deserves the high price it commands. Additionally, it has a complex flavor profile, but a very well-balanced one. You should be able to taste all the distinct notes without any of them drowning out the rest.
Indeed, while everyone has their own preferences, many people consider it the most reliable whiskey in the BTAC collection.
The other reason why there is so much hype and demand for William Larue Weller whiskey is the reality that it is a limited edition bourbon. Every year, only so many bottles are released. Naturally, there is a lot of competition among buyers to get their hands on one of these rare bottles. This drives up the price for William Larue Weller significantly over the suggested retail price (see the section below).
What Does the 2024 WL Weller Release Cost?
The MSRP for the 2024 William Larue Weller is only around $150. But we usually see this bouron selling for more than $1,500 on the secondary market. On occasion, we have even see bottles priced at more than $2,500 (though if you shop around, you can likely avoid that). So, you will need to be ready to shell out a substantial amount of money to purchase this limited edition bottle on the secondary market.
Hunt around and you may find a bottle for under $1k. We found it on a trip to Kentucky and it was literally our last stop of the day.
Tips for Enjoying the 2024 Wellers
Because of the high proof, the William Larue Weller can be intense, and have quite a burn going down. This can obscure the flavors for some drinkers.
In fact, despite the fact that it comes in below 130 proof, when you try it, it might seem like it’s at 130+.
William Larue Weller tends to do a better job maintaining a flavorful, rich profile even with the intense burn than a lot of other whiskeys. It is known to be ‘smooth’ even with the higher proof.
Still, if you find it hard to detect some of the nuances under the burn, the best solution is simply to add a little water. This should bring more of the flavor out so you can experience it more fully.
Specifications
- Company: Buffalo Trace Distillery
- Type: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
- Distilled: 2011
- Barrel strength:
- Age: 12 years and 6 months
- Proof: 125.8
- Color: Deep amber
- Nose: Vanilla, caramel, butterscotch, oak, cherries, almonds
- Taste: Vanilla, cherries, brown sugar, baking spices, maple syrup, oak, honey, pecans
- Finish: Cloves, cinnamon, vanilla, charred oak
- MSRP: $150
- T8ke rating: 9.5/10
My William Larue Weller Review
Taken: Neat in 4x in a Glencairn glass
Proof: 125.8 proof
Age: 12 years 6 months
Price: $999
Nose: Perhaps the best nose on any bourbon I have had in my 46 years. I am also a huge fan of the Pappy 15 year nose and this WLW release is right there with it. Vanilla and cherry cobbler notes overwhelm the senses. Mature oak balances things nicely but doesn’t mask the sweetness.
Taste: A deep splash of carmel, dark cherry and robust oak coats the palate. It is a truly enjoyable palate and consecutive chews reveal a multi-layered bourbon that has a depth that beats out the 2023 GTS release.
Finish: The smoothness is surprising with this proof. The mouth coating is heavy and leaves a nice lingering Kentucky hug but I can still appreciate the dark cherry and tobacco molasses. Again, my thoughts turn to the Pappy 15 year release.
Thoughts: This unicorn is a challenge to find without breaking your bank. If I could find it at MSRP, I would stock up. The depth and balance are the highlights and this release has clearly earned the top rank of the BTAC collection.
This is an all-time great for me and I hope to be able to find more releases of it soon.
Rating: 9.5/10 – T8ke scale
Where to Buy William Larue Weller Online
William Larue Weller is a truly outstanding whiskey experience that is well worth it for any connoisseur. The wheat-based process makes it exceptionally smooth and flavorful.
We have tracked down 2 legit vendors for WLW online, click below to buy the 2024 William Larue Weller at a fair price.
