Review #2: William Larue Weller: Bourbon

Score: 9.7 / 10

Distillery: Buffalo Trace

Type: Kentucky Straight Wheated

This particular release is the 2019 William Larue Weller (WLW). A very highly allocated whiskey. So far, this is the BEST bourbon that I have tried. I'm not the only person that has said that either. I hear it all the time as I tread from store to store. Part of the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection (BTAC), which is a yearly release of the best 5 whiskeys that Buffalo Trace makes (arguably), this tends to top most charts when compared to others. Basically, bourbon is not your thing if you don't like this. Prices swing wildly in stores and on the secondary market, but if you ever find it for less than $300 and don't buy it, please contact me and I'll take it off their hands IMMEDIATELY! If you're in need of a real time tasting check out episode 4 and 5 of our whiskey podcast Po It Up here.

Whiskey Review:

Nose: peppercorn, vanilla, dark chocolate, oak and leather

Palate: thick and oily. Coats the mouth thoroughly then transforms halfway through into firecracker peppercorn as it sizzles on the tongue. Burst of initial sweetness that is well rounded with vanilla, citrus and stone fruit. Transforms into rich peppercorn and intense cinnamon on the back-end mixed with seasoned oak. A truly dynamic drinker that starts off sweet and smooth then offers layers of complexity as transforms into crave-able heat.

Finish: Fiery dry cinnamon flavors fade slowly and moderate tannins leave lingering oak. Increasing dryness combined with persistent woodiness leaves me wanting more.

Score 9.7. A damn fine bourbon.

Notes: Availability of this bottle? Pretty much unobtainium. This bottle is a testament to the whiskey networking that I did this year and I have some special friends that deserve many thanks for selling this to me.

Scale:

S+ Sensational - The Pinnacle (9.5+)

A - AXEceptional (astounding) (9-9.5)

B - bravo (step aBove average) (8-8.9)

C - competent (7-7.9)

D - disappointing (6-6.9)

F - flush it down the toilet (fail) (5.9 below)