William Larue Weller
Encyclopedia
W. L. Weller is a brand of wheated bourbon
. The brand was originally owned by the Stitzel-Weller Distilling Company, which was sold several times after 1972. The brand is currently owned by the Sazerac Company
and produced at the Buffalo Trace Distillery
in Frankfort, Kentucky
. Like all bourbons Weller is distilled from a mash composed of at least 51% corn (maize
). What makes Weller different is that its secondary grain is wheat rather than the usual rye.
The bourbon was named after William Larue Weller (1825–1899) who was a bourbon whiskey
distilling pioneer in the early days of Kentucky
. He is famous for being the first to produce straight bourbon using wheat
instead of rye
. His wheated bourbon was first bottled in 1849.
There are several bourbons produced under the Weller name, all of which are wheated. The top three brands with the "W. L." title are all produced in their signature bell shaped bottle while the fourth variation with the title "William LaRue" is bottle in a very sleek straight wine bottle. The various brands and their descriptions are:
Bourbon whiskey
Bourbon is a type of American whiskey – a barrel-aged distilled spirit made primarily from corn. The name of the spirit derives from its historical association with an area known as Old Bourbon, around what is now Bourbon County, Kentucky . It has been produced since the 18th century...
. The brand was originally owned by the Stitzel-Weller Distilling Company, which was sold several times after 1972. The brand is currently owned by the Sazerac Company
Sazerac Company
The Sazerac Company is a large privately held and family-operated alcoholic beverages company with headquarters in Metairie, Louisiana.It owns and produces a large and diversified portfolio of beverage brands, and it owns and operates a number of distilling companies...
and produced at the Buffalo Trace Distillery
Buffalo Trace Distillery
Buffalo Trace Distillery is a distillery located in Frankfort, Kentucky. It has historically been known by several names, including most notably, the George T. Stagg Distillery and the O.F.C. Distillery. Its namesake bourbon brand, Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon whiskey, was introduced...
in Frankfort, Kentucky
Frankfort, Kentucky
Frankfort is a city in Kentucky that serves as the state capital and the county seat of Franklin County. The population was 27,741 at the 2000 census; by population it is the 5th smallest state capital in the United States...
. Like all bourbons Weller is distilled from a mash composed of at least 51% corn (maize
Maize
Maize known in many English-speaking countries as corn or mielie/mealie, is a grain domesticated by indigenous peoples in Mesoamerica in prehistoric times. The leafy stalk produces ears which contain seeds called kernels. Though technically a grain, maize kernels are used in cooking as a vegetable...
). What makes Weller different is that its secondary grain is wheat rather than the usual rye.
The bourbon was named after William Larue Weller (1825–1899) who was a bourbon whiskey
Bourbon whiskey
Bourbon is a type of American whiskey – a barrel-aged distilled spirit made primarily from corn. The name of the spirit derives from its historical association with an area known as Old Bourbon, around what is now Bourbon County, Kentucky . It has been produced since the 18th century...
distilling pioneer in the early days of Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
. He is famous for being the first to produce straight bourbon using wheat
Wheat
Wheat is a cereal grain, originally from the Levant region of the Near East, but now cultivated worldwide. In 2007 world production of wheat was 607 million tons, making it the third most-produced cereal after maize and rice...
instead of rye
Rye
Rye is a grass grown extensively as a grain and as a forage crop. It is a member of the wheat tribe and is closely related to barley and wheat. Rye grain is used for flour, rye bread, rye beer, some whiskeys, some vodkas, and animal fodder...
. His wheated bourbon was first bottled in 1849.
Current Brand Expressions
William Larue Weller is a part of the Buffalo Trace Distillery's Antique Collection. It is an uncut & unfiltered Kentucky Straight Bourbon WhiskeyThere are several bourbons produced under the Weller name, all of which are wheated. The top three brands with the "W. L." title are all produced in their signature bell shaped bottle while the fourth variation with the title "William LaRue" is bottle in a very sleek straight wine bottle. The various brands and their descriptions are:
- W.L. Weller Special Reserve is 7 years old and bottled at 90 proof.
- W.L. Weller Antique is bottled at 107 proof.
- W.L. Weller 12 Year - 90 proof
- William LaRue Weller is a barrel proof, unfiltered bourbon. It was introduced in 2005 as a part of the Antique Collection
Past Expressions
- W.L. Weller 19 year was bottled at 90 proof for the 2001 and 2002 Antique Collections.
- W.L. Weller "Centennial" was a 10 years old, 100 proof bourbon which went out of production in 2009.