Weller 12 Year

Wheated Bourbon • 12 Year • 90 Proof

Hello guys, Toni B here. To keep the cábala going and hoping the Knicks 🏀 can just win one more to get that chip, I'm dropping another review before the game. Today is Game 5 of the NBA Finals 🏆! Also, the World Cup ⚽ is going on and Brazil 🇧🇷 is playing today, so the city is buzzing. Gotta love it.

That last game was nuts... one of the greatest comebacks I've ever seen. I thought it was over by halftime. That winning tip in at the end by OG Anunoby, man... it still feels unreal. If we win this championship, that man deserves a statue outside Madison Square Garden. Now the Knicks 🏀 are up 3-1. (Biggest comeback and biggest choke ever? If the Knicks 🏀 get the chip, it might go down right there with the Patriots vs. Falcons 🏈 from the 2016 season.)

One of the local stores was running a Father's Day special bundle for $169.99, and it included a Weller 12 Year Wheated Bourbon with a tequila. (In case you're wondering, the other bottle was a Siete Leguas Añejo French Oak, a solid tequila, so I didn't mind at all. You guys tell me in the comments if I overpaid or not.)

Looking at the bottle, it is 90 proof. Depending on where you get it, the MSRP can land between $50 and $70. My understanding is that the MSRP for the 12 Year is actually supposed to be lower than the 107. However, almost everywhere you go, the 12 Year is priced higher. Maybe people think it should be priced higher because it's been in the barrel for 12 years. But then again, it's lower proof, so I don't know. You guys tell me. 🤷‍♂️

Opening the bottle, the first thing that popped out to me was that it has a screw top and doesn't have a cork. It felt like I was opening a bottle of Early Times. (It's a shame because this year Early Times sucks. Honestly, I wonder if Sazerac is trying to kill that brand to push another one.)

Serving it in the Glencairn glass, it has a nice darker amber color. I like to let it sit for about 10 minutes before doing a tasting. I really take my time with the aroma and the sip because I'm trying hard to pinpoint these flavors. I don't want to BS you guys trying to sound fancy or act like I have a "gold palate," because I don't.

I've noticed a big difference between doing the aroma right away versus letting it breathe. Definitely let it sit if you can. I know it's tempting to jump right in, but it makes it easier to pick up the other notes. At first, you get hit with a lot of sweetness from the barrel influence, but once it sits, it mellows out and the rest starts coming through.

On the aroma, I get really sweet vanilla and caramel. I barely feel any ethanol on this one. I also pick up some fruity notes, but they aren't as pronounced as they are in the 107. Finally, I get a bit of an apple note, almost like a slightly bitter, acidic bite right at the end.

Okay, on the taste. This one leans really hard on the oak. You get that vanilla and caramel, and there are some fruit notes, but it's not a heavy cherry. It's more of a faded cherry note because the oak is really the star here. There is absolutely zero spice to it. It's really easy to drink, but honestly, I can't imagine putting this on ice. For my palate, I prefer a bit more punch and spice, so this feels a little too light. But I can easily see people who love sweet oak notes really enjoying this one. And to be fair, it balances out much better once it sits.

What I find interesting is that the sip itself is sweet, but the finish comes in really dry. You know when you eat peanut butter and it leaves that dry, fading aftertaste coating your mouth? This gives me exactly those vibes. It's a tasty drink. I just wish the proof was higher.

It's a good pour, but for the price and the proof, I think there are tons of better options out there. For around a hundred bucks, I can think of few bottles that I would enjoy more. And before you ask, yes, for me the 107 is way superior. Like I mentioned, the lighter finish on this one was my biggest disappointment, which makes it hard to rate it any higher.

Alright guys, I'm gonna continue sipping this, finish watching the Brazil 🇧🇷⚽ game, and get ready for the Knicks🏀 game. This is Toni B guys and I'm out. Go Knicks 🏀!