{"product_id":"william-larue-weller-2017","title":"William Larue Weller 2017 128.2 Proof","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e128.2 proof. Uncut. Unfiltered. The 2017 William Larue Weller is the wheated bourbon counterpart to George T. Stagg — and one of the most sought-after releases in the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp\u003eWilliam Larue Weller is one of five annual releases in the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection — and the only wheated bourbon in the group. Where George T. Stagg uses a high-rye mashbill and delivers bold spice and power, Weller substitutes wheat for rye, producing a dramatically different character: softer, rounder, with more pronounced fruit and caramel even at cask strength. At 10 to 14 years of age and 128.2 proof, the 2017 delivers all of that character completely unfiltered and undiluted.\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp\u003eThe 2017 release is particularly notable for having emerged from prime barrel positions in Buffalo Trace's warehouses — the specific locations selected for maximum flavor development. It sells out within hours of release every year and commands significant premiums on the secondary market. For collectors of wheated bourbon, it's the annual benchmark.\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003ch3\u003eTasting Notes\u003c\/h3\u003e \u003cul\u003e   \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eAppearance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Deep, burnished amber.\u003c\/li\u003e   \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eAroma:\u003c\/strong\u003e Rich caramel, vanilla, dark fruit, toasted oak, and a warm honeyed sweetness. More fruit-forward than the rye-heavy BTAC releases.\u003c\/li\u003e   \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003ePalate:\u003c\/strong\u003e Smooth and full-bodied despite the proof — toffee, dark chocolate, dried cherry, baking spice, and a silky wheat grain sweetness that distinguishes it from any rye-mashbill bourbon at this level.\u003c\/li\u003e   \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eFinish:\u003c\/strong\u003e Long and warming — caramel, vanilla, and oak tapering into a clean, 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 Wheated Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey\u003c\/li\u003e   \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eAge:\u003c\/strong\u003e 10–14 years\u003c\/li\u003e   \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eProof:\u003c\/strong\u003e 128.2 (64.1% ABV)\u003c\/li\u003e   \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eBottling:\u003c\/strong\u003e Uncut, unfiltered\u003c\/li\u003e   \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e 750ml\u003c\/li\u003e   \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eRelease:\u003c\/strong\u003e 2017 Buffalo Trace Antique Collection\u003c\/li\u003e \u003c\/ul\u003e  \u003cp\u003eExplore the full \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/woodencork.com\/collections\/william-larue-weller\"\u003eWilliam Larue Weller collection\u003c\/a\u003e or browse 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\u003eHow does William Larue Weller differ from W.L. Weller bourbons?\u003c\/strong\u003e W.L. Weller (Special Reserve, 12 Year, Antique 107, Full Proof) is the accessible wheated bourbon line from Buffalo Trace. William Larue Weller is an entirely separate, annual limited release in the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection — uncut, unfiltered, cask strength, and aged significantly longer. They share the wheated mashbill but represent completely different tiers of production.\u003c\/li\u003e   \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eWhy is William Larue Weller so hard to find?\u003c\/strong\u003e The BTAC is produced in very limited quantities annually and allocated to retailers across the country. Demand has dramatically outpaced supply for years. Retail allocations are typically small and sell out immediately upon arrival.\u003c\/li\u003e   \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eHow does the 2017 William Larue Weller compare to other vintage years?\u003c\/strong\u003e Each annual release varies in age, proof, and barrel selection. The 2017 came in at 128.2 proof — one of the higher proof releases in recent years — and is widely regarded as one of the strongest expressions in the series' history. Secondary market values reflect this consistently.\u003c\/li\u003e   \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eIs William Larue Weller related to Pappy Van Winkle?\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes — both use the same wheated mashbill that traces back to W.L. Weller \u0026amp; Sons and Stitzel-Weller Distillery, where Pappy Van Winkle himself worked. Buffalo Trace acquired the Weller brand and has produced both the W.L. Weller line and the Van Winkle bourbons using the same foundational recipe since 2002.\u003c\/li\u003e \u003c\/ul\u003e  \u003cscript type=\"application\/ld+json\"\u003e {   \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",   \"@type\": \"FAQPage\",   \"mainEntity\": [     {       \"@type\": \"Question\",       \"name\": \"How does William Larue Weller differ from W.L. Weller bourbons?\",       \"acceptedAnswer\": {         \"@type\": \"Answer\",         \"text\": \"W.L. Weller is the accessible wheated bourbon line from Buffalo Trace. William Larue Weller is an annual limited release in the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection \\u2014 uncut, unfiltered, cask strength, and aged significantly longer. They share the wheated mashbill but represent completely different tiers.\"       }     },     {       \"@type\": \"Question\",       \"name\": \"Why is William Larue Weller so hard to find?\",       \"acceptedAnswer\": {         \"@type\": \"Answer\",         \"text\": \"The BTAC is produced in very limited quantities annually and allocated to retailers across the country. Demand has dramatically outpaced supply for years. Retail allocations are typically small and sell out immediately upon arrival.\"       }     },     {       \"@type\": \"Question\",       \"name\": \"How does the 2017 William Larue Weller compare to other vintage years?\",       \"acceptedAnswer\": {         \"@type\": \"Answer\",         \"text\": \"The 2017 came in at 128.2 proof \\u2014 one of the higher proof releases in recent years \\u2014 and is widely regarded as one of the strongest expressions in the series' history. Secondary market values reflect this consistently.\"       }     },     {       \"@type\": \"Question\",       \"name\": \"Is William Larue Weller related to Pappy Van Winkle?\",       \"acceptedAnswer\": {         \"@type\": \"Answer\",         \"text\": \"Yes \\u2014 both use the same wheated mashbill that traces back to W.L. Weller \u0026 Sons and Stitzel-Weller Distillery. Buffalo Trace has produced both the W.L. Weller line and the Van Winkle bourbons using the same foundational recipe since 2002.\"       }     }   ] } \u003c\/script\u003e","brand":"William Larue Weller","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49128328593660,"sku":"17-088004025953","price":1795.49,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0800\/6605\/2348\/files\/William_Larue_Weller_2017.png?v=1779559653","url":"https:\/\/thebourbonvaulthq.com\/products\/william-larue-weller-2017","provider":"THE BOURBONVAULT HQ","version":"1.0","type":"link"}