Updated June 2026
W.L. Weller Special Reserve is a wheated Kentucky straight bourbon at 90 proof / 45% ABV, distilled at Buffalo Trace in Frankfort. Wheat replaces rye in the flavoring-grain slot. It is not Antique 107, not 12-year, not Full Proof. The magazine already has /weller-special-reserve/; this is the bottle entry under a free slug. Hub: Buffalo Trace.
| Size | ABV | Style | Origin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 750 mL | 45% / 90 proof | Kentucky straight bourbon (wheated) | United States — Kentucky |
What the bottle actually is
Buffalo Trace does not publish a mash-bill percentage we will print. “Wheated” is the useful word and matches the catalog sentence. Special Reserve is the green-label 90-proof entry. Antique 107 is 107 proof. Do not invent Barton or Heaven Hill as the source — this one is Sazerac / Buffalo Trace.
A 1.5-ounce pour is 1.13 standard drinks. Allocation is real; we will not print a 2026 MSRP or a “just walk in” lie. Compare Weller SR vs Buffalo Trace, vs Antique 107, and is Buffalo Trace wheated? (the flagship BT bourbon is not).
Lab notes
The catalog gave a color note (burnt orange) and “softer flavor,” no nose/palate/finish bullets. We will not invent custard and denim. Wheated 90-proof bourbon from this family usually reads softer than rye-recipe BT; that is a family tendency, not a score.
Related: Weller hub · who makes Weller · Maker’s Mark (another wheated, different DSP).