William Larue Weller (2011)
Added on Monday, Dec 19, 2011 at 06:43 PM
  Bottler: Buffalo Trace
  Age: 12 yrs Type: American
  Vintage: 1998 Subtype: Bourbon
  ABV: 66.75 % Region: Kentucky
  Price: $80 Availability: Specialty Stores
Member Ratings and Notes
Sku
 
Nose:  Smells like Weller!  Corn sweetness + tannins + slight citric acid type note...makes my mouth water just smelling it.
Palate:  Tasting neat, this one starts sharply sour which yields to nice caramel/toffee notes.   brings out those candy notes as well as some fruit candy and a bit of that trademark Weller acidity (lemon rind) and just a hint of inoffensive bitterness, like in Campari.
Finish:  The bitter notes stay and then yield to a lush caramel corn flavor.

Good, but it doesn't reach the heights of Wellers past.  It's not as tight a package as some of them have been. 
 
Tim
 

N: Big toffee notes initially with some caramel beneath. Slightly buttery; hints of pecan. Maple syrup in abundance; wood is present but not overbearing. Some cherry notes hanging out in the background as well. White pepper and cinnamon. Water open up more of the caramel notes and brings some corn and grain to the front. 

 

P: Warm and rich; slightly bttery. Sweet with toffee; some wood present; maple syrup; some vanilla. Light molasses and a hint of oranges. A light dusting of pepper. Water makes this ridiculously smooth and buttery. There are some cherry notes but it's dominated by toffee and caramel. Insanely smooth.

 

F: Black cherry and wood in abundance, some vanilla at the edges; slightly bitter; the slightest trace of corn sweetness and some slight hints of marshmallow.

 

This is easily the best Weller of the last three years in my opinion, very balanced and clean. However, where that would make it an A based on previous years, it just feels slightly restrained. Water makes this an absurdly syrupy, buttery, rich whiskey - I don't know if I prefer it more with or without the water. Dealer's choice.  

 
Ries
 

n: light spread of red berry jam on dark wheat toast. Buttery and sweet with honey and a nose burning ABV. Vanilla cream cherries.

 

t: quite oaky, roasted corn deliciousness, with a dark honey wheat bread that really asserts itself. Middle is dry and tannic. Candied orange peel and strong black tea in the finish. Tastes like christmas and everything that is good in the world. Very easy to drink that belies its 133.5 proof.

 

[very high-rated B+/A-] 

 
Andy
 

n:  Sharp and bitter mint.

 

p:  Dank and minty wood. Not as sweet as other WLW.

 

B/B+

 

 

 
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