Apple juice | Golden raisin | Corn syrup | Light summer fruits | Fresh wheat bread | Light vanilla | New oak

Creamy vanilla | Light nutmeg | Dry cinnamon spice | White peppercorn | Light caramel | Strawberry | Silky mouthfeel

Chewy oak | Light cinnamon spice | Spiced dried apple | Creamy strawberry | Brown sugar | Baking spices | Lingering heat

Weller Single Barrel was first released in 2022 and is the latest edition of the still ongoing Weller brand line, which includes Weller Special Reserve, Weller Antique 107, Weller 12 Year, Weller Full Proof, Weller Craft Your Perfect Bourbon (CYPB), and William Larue Weller. The single barrel variation is released once per year on an ongoing basis. Like other bourbons in the line, it’s a wheated bourbon, and like Weller Full Proof, it contains a cork stopper, conveying its more premium nature in the Weller lineup. Being a single barrel bourbon, each barrel will be slightly different by nature, however, it is assumed that Buffalo Trace selects barrels to align with a certain flavor profile that they expect for the brand.

The sip starts off on a weaker note, which was surprising since the last Weller Single Barrel we reviewed in 2022 started off with a bang. This particular barrel displays notes of apple juice and golden raisin that push against corn syrup and wheat bread, along with lighter notes of summer fruits and vanilla. Transitioning to the palate, however, tells a totally different story, as the sip finds its stride at this point. Leaning into creamy vanilla and strawberry notes along with a silky mouthfeel, the midpoint also displays a nice contrast of more earthy, grounded flavors. The finish transitions to more spice flavors along with a dollop of creamy strawberry before transitioning to a lingering heat. While the sip might have started off slow, overall, Weller Single Barrel is a well-balanced pour that is easy to appreciate on the surface, while those who spend time with the sip will find layers of flavors to dissect and enjoy.