Tasting Notes for W.L. Weller Antique 107
Nose: Remarkably spicy for a wheated Spirit, delivering notes of cinnamon, vanilla, caramel/ butterscotch and wood.
Taste: The flavors come in distinct waves and all the power of that cask strength Spirit in notes of spice cake, leather, and a Rum-like quality.
Finish: Long with a nice burn of heavy oak and sweetness.
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The name "Weller" has been around the horn a few times. It all started with the Stitzel-Weller Distilling Company — founded in 1935 and closed in 1972 during the famous "Whiskey Recession." The had a bunch of great brands when they closed, and the formulas and brands were sold off. Today, the W. L. Weller brand is owned by Sazerac out of New Orleans and the Bourbons are distilled at their famous Buffalo Trace Distillery along with a wide array of Sazerac products.
W.L. Weller Old Weller Antique is a Kentucky Straight Wheated Bourbon — sometimes called "Antique 107" — that is indeed bottled at 107 proof (53.5% ABV). That’s nearly cask strength, and all the flavors are powerful at that level. Although there is no age statement, the consensus of our experts and the Bourbon-drinking public is that it clocks in somewhere near seven years old. As a Straight Bourbon, it can’t have any artificial colors or flavorings and you just can’t get a rich color and smooth finish like that in less time. Bottom line, it is very smooth with a very light spice at a great value point and makes for an amazing daily dram. And the experts agree — judging by the haul of gold medals it's been awarded.