Introduction
This is a tasting I’ve been excited about for a while: Weller series (sin CYPB). Have had a few opportunities to buy it, but it just doesn’t seem to be worth $1,000. My guest and I started liking poor man’s pappy when it was actually affordable. Often, I actually passed up handles of Weller’s Special Reserve at $45. Seems like another life time, and would be absolutely crazy for anyone to pass that up now. I am currently on my last bottle, and not sure when I’ll be able to get it that cheaply again. As a seasonal whiskey hunter, yet a seriously aggressive Weller hunter, my guest has slowly collected all but CYPB (and antique collection) from a variety of states and connections and I just had to have him bring over Full Proof, Single Barrel and 12 Year. I can say without doubt that he knows his Weller, knows what he likes and can pick out all five Wellers with 100% accuracy while tasting them blind. He was, however, very succinct in his descriptions and even more so on paper. I believe writing down a maximum of one word per whiskey like “hot” or “sweet” bar his guess at what he was drinking. Maybe he has a tough time articulating his palate into written words. Maybe he lives a little too Shakespearean with brevity being the soul of wit. Or just maybe he’s more Stoic than he realizes with a hint of the famously succinct Heraclitus. At either rate, his palate is definitely more refined than mine for this particular line up. Perhaps it was the several drams of whiskey in a short time frame that dulled the senses a bit! Nevertheless, I was ecstatic to try them all blindly side by side, and to reconfirm exactly which ones I like most, and which ones I need to focus on buying in the future.
Without further preamble, I bring you “Feeling stellar, sipping Weller” with brother-in-law and longtime friend, Ian.
The Whiskeys
- Weller Special Reserve
- 90 proof
- Weller Antique 107
- 107 proof
- Weller 12 Year
- 90 proof
- Weller Full Proof
- 114 proof
- Weller Single Barrel
- 97 proof
Our Thoughts
- Weller #1
- Nose: quintessential BT smell of vanilla and oak
- Palate: very good yet quick of flavor. Feel strong, but still less than 100 proof. Not quite as sweet as most others
- Weller #2
- Nose: smelled smoother than #1, although less unique. Fairly boring actually.
- Palate: not warm at all. It is smooth, sweet and flavorful, although like most BT products, dies off rather quickly.
- Weller #3
- Nose: similar smells to #1 but stronger for sure. Can already tell it’s one of the higher proofed whiskeys.
- Palate: warm taste with a woodier flavor than the others. Very sweet and toffee like.
- Weller #4
- Nose: smells hotter in a drier, ethanol sense. Woody for sure.
- Palate: taste is smoother than the smell, and not that hot. A little sweeter than #1, with more fruit flavors…almost fig like.
- Weller #5
- Nose: instantly smell the hotness and sweetness
- Palate: very sweet flavor as well. Strong caramel and toffee flavors. One of the more unique ones.
Ratings & Conclusion
Kyle:
- Weller #5: Antique 107
- Weller #3: Full Proof (very close 2nd)
- Weller #4: Single Barrel
- Weller #1: 12 Year
- Weller #2: Special Reserve
Ian:
- Weller #1: 12 Year
- Weller #4: Single Barrel
- Weller #3: Full Proof
- Weller #5: Antique 107
- Weller #2: Special Reserve
Conclusion:
I definitely tend to enjoy the hotter whiskey’s more than Ian, as was apparent with our standings of each one. However, our tastes are nothing short of consistent, blind or not. Both the 107 and Full Proof, to me, provide so much more flavor and depth than the other 3. As for Ian, he apparently doesn’t like the constant burn of whiskey numbing his insides. To each his own I suppose. I was glad we did this blind, as I now know what’s worth my time and money. None of these bottles should ever be passed up when paying MSRP. Ever. But with the whiskey boom and secondary prices going for literally over 1000%, I can confidently say that I’d rather allocate those funds towards finding other whiskeys, or simply my favorite, 107, at a more reasonable price of around $100. I am curious if any results would change should we put more effort into the nose and palate. Maybe a more refined description. I would like to blind Full Proof and 107 alone side by side, and another, on a separate day with 12 Year and Single Barrel. No pregame whiskeys either. I wouldn’t be surprised if our order stays exactly the same. I can indubitably say that it would equally as delightful, as is most tastings. What do they say, “The worst day drinking whiskey is better than the best day fishing?” Sounds about right. Until next time. Slàinte Mhath mates!