{"product_id":"w-l-weller-18-year-straight-wheat-whiskey","title":"W.L. Weller 18 Year Straight Wheat Whiskey","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e18 years. The oldest age-statement W.L. Weller expression — and a significant departure from the standard Weller lineup: designated as Straight Wheat Whiskey rather than bourbon, showcasing what Buffalo Trace's wheated mashbill can achieve when wheat's role is elevated to the primary grain rather than secondary.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp\u003eThe standard W.L. Weller lineup (Special Reserve, Antique 107, 12 Year, Full Proof, CYPB) and William Larue Weller BTAC are all wheated bourbons — corn-primary mashbills where wheat replaces rye as the secondary grain. The Weller 18 Year Straight Wheat Whiskey takes a different approach: a mash bill where wheat plays a more primary role, producing a designation of \"straight wheat whiskey\" rather than bourbon. This makes it categorically distinct from every other Weller expression — not a wheated bourbon but a wheat whiskey, the grain that defines the Weller family's heritage now at the center of the composition rather than as a supporting player.\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp\u003eAt 18 years, this is the most age-forward W.L. Weller expression in the Buffalo Trace portfolio. The wheat-primary character at 18 years produces a profile that no bourbon expression in the Weller lineup can replicate — the wheat's natural sweetness and soft grain character deepened by nearly two decades of Kentucky barrel cycling into something simultaneously familiar and completely distinctive.\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003ch3\u003eTasting Notes\u003c\/h3\u003e \u003cul\u003e   \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eAppearance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Deep amber from 18 years of barrel maturation.\u003c\/li\u003e   \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eNose:\u003c\/strong\u003e Caramel, vanilla, and the wheat grain's characteristic soft sweetness deepened by 18-year maturation — more grain-forward and soft than a standard wheated bourbon.\u003c\/li\u003e   \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003ePalate:\u003c\/strong\u003e Smooth and concentrated — the wheat-primary character producing extraordinary softness alongside the deep oak of 18-year Kentucky aging.\u003c\/li\u003e   \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eFinish:\u003c\/strong\u003e Long and warm — the wheat character through an extended, satisfying close.\u003c\/li\u003e \u003c\/ul\u003e  \u003ch3\u003eSpecs\u003c\/h3\u003e \u003cul\u003e   \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eDistillery:\u003c\/strong\u003e Buffalo Trace, Frankfort, Kentucky\u003c\/li\u003e   \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eStyle:\u003c\/strong\u003e Kentucky Straight Wheat Whiskey\u003c\/li\u003e   \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eAge:\u003c\/strong\u003e 18 years\u003c\/li\u003e   \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e 750ml\u003c\/li\u003e \u003c\/ul\u003e  \u003cp\u003eBrowse all \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/woodencork.com\/collections\/bourbon\"\u003ebourbon at Wooden Cork\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003ch3\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h3\u003e \u003cul\u003e   \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eWhy is this a \"wheat whiskey\" rather than bourbon?\u003c\/strong\u003e Bourbon requires a mashbill of at least 51% corn. Straight wheat whiskey requires a mashbill of at least 51% wheat. The Weller 18 Year uses a wheat-dominant mashbill, making it legally a wheat whiskey rather than bourbon. This gives wheat the starring role that the Weller name has always honored — William Larue Weller's contribution to American whiskey was introducing wheat as a key grain, and this expression takes that heritage to its logical conclusion.\u003c\/li\u003e   \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eHow does this differ from W.L. Weller 12 Year or William Larue Weller BTAC?\u003c\/strong\u003e The Weller 12 Year and WLW BTAC are wheated bourbons — corn-primary with wheat as secondary grain. The 18 Year Straight Wheat Whiskey is wheat-primary — a different mashbill hierarchy producing a distinctly different grain character. It is the most extreme expression of the wheat-forward philosophy in the Weller family.\u003c\/li\u003e   \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eIs this the oldest age-statement Weller expression?\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes — at 18 years, the Weller 18 Year Straight Wheat Whiskey is the oldest age-statement expression in the W.L. Weller lineup, older even than the Weller 12 Year by 6 years.\u003c\/li\u003e   \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eIs the Weller 18 Year still available?\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes — one bottle in current stock.\u003c\/li\u003e \u003c\/ul\u003e  \u003cscript type=\"application\/ld+json\"\u003e {   \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",   \"@type\": \"FAQPage\",   \"mainEntity\": [     { \"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"Why is this a wheat whiskey rather than bourbon?\", \"acceptedAnswer\": { \"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"Bourbon requires 51%+ corn. Straight wheat whiskey requires 51%+ wheat. The Weller 18 Year uses a wheat-dominant mashbill, giving wheat the starring role the Weller name has always honored.\" } },     { \"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"How does this differ from Weller 12 Year or WLW BTAC?\", \"acceptedAnswer\": { \"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"Weller 12 and WLW BTAC are wheated bourbons (corn-primary, wheat secondary). The 18 Year Straight Wheat Whiskey is wheat-primary \\u2014 a different mashbill hierarchy producing distinctly different grain character.\" } },     { \"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"Is this the oldest age-statement Weller expression?\", \"acceptedAnswer\": { \"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"Yes \\u2014 at 18 years, this is the oldest age-statement in the W.L. Weller lineup.\" } },     { \"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"Is the Weller 18 Year still available?\", \"acceptedAnswer\": { \"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"Yes \\u2014 one bottle in current stock.\" } }   ] } \u003c\/script\u003e","brand":"W. L. Weller","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49127974535420,"sku":"w-l-weller-18-year-straight-wheat-whiskey","price":3039.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0800\/6605\/2348\/files\/w-l-weller-18-year-straight-wheat-whiskey-american-225.webp?v=1779538733","url":"https:\/\/thebourbonvaulthq.com\/products\/w-l-weller-18-year-straight-wheat-whiskey","provider":"THE BOURBONVAULT HQ","version":"1.0","type":"link"}