William Larue Weller Bourbon (Fall 2020)

Nose: Wonderfully complex and inviting. Cherries greet you at the top of the glass, and long, deep breaths close to the whiskey reveal brûléed sugars and caramel. Breaths with an open mouth hint at a minty note that I did not catch until I read other reviews. Palate: Bright and sweet on the tongue initially, reminding me of oranges and peaches. These notes give way to a dark-fruit sweetness and bread notes that make me think of a Fig Newton. Toasted oak spice builds slowly on the palate, reaching its peak at the finish. Finish: Dark, red, dried fruits linger with the oak spice long after the whiskey is gone, punctuated by faint notes of cracked black pepper. My gums, tongue and cheeks all tingle pleasantly, and there is a gentle warming sensation in my throat and chest. Got to taste this, courtesy of a friend — thanks, man!

Surprisingly little ethanol on the nose, which is uncommon for something this high-proof. The aroma begins floral before notes of leather and oak emerge. A slight minty quality. The alcohol that was absent from the nose makes its presence known forcefully on the palate. Extremely hot. Beyond the alcohol, the palate features prominent caramel notes, as expected, with some more delicate cream notes providing balance. The finish is clinging and persistent. Black pepper, rye spice, and a tart element I can't quite identify. Note: This is my first experience with the BTAC series. While I've rated them all similarly so far, I do have personal favorites among them. Of the three I've tried: Stagg is my top choice, this one is second, and Handy is third. All considered, three outstanding bourbons that I would strongly endorse.

On the nose, you'll find abundant spicy, dry oak, gentle baking spices (clove, cinnamon), rich molasses, brown sugar, and vanilla. The taste presents as quite dry and oak-forward, featuring a powerful spice that permeates the entire palate. Once the spices subside, dry oak combines with vanilla, imparting a remarkably smooth texture, with a faint hint of cherry in the periphery providing a touch of tartness. The finish is lengthy and intense, with spice and oak creating a fiery sensation, while the lingering creamy notes gently dissipate. This spirit is intensely robust, yet achieves it admirably. It's powerful and exhibits all the characteristics of a wheated bourbon. Exceptional.

Fortunate to find a bottle in late 2021. Third time trying this one out after it’s been open for a month. Enjoying neat. Nose - big time flavors here. Vanilla, brown sugar, cherries galore, with some nice heat coming from the high proof and some spiciness maybe some mint coming through. Taste - super rich and syrup filled flavors. Chocolate cherries, minty spice, with a nice pungent oak ending. The finish just lasts forever of bold spices and oak. Overall - Huge flavor bourbon here. Nose is stellar, big flavors on the palate and all surprisingly smooth as butter for such a high proof. This is a stellar bourbon

Nose: Cherry turnovers. Streusel. Toasted wheat bread. Very little ethanol. Woody. Taste: Madagascar vanilla bean (sticky sweet vanilla), Cherries Jubilee, red fruit jam, and complex caramel on the mid-palate. Spices throughout. Finish: Sweet oak. Vanilla wafers. Cherry turnover. The faintest coffee note if you try to detect it. Overall a wonderfully robust and complex bourbon. A very satisfying drink. The best wheated bourbon I have ever had the pleasure to sample. I received a 2oz tasting of this from a kind individual in an online whiskey community. My thanks to them.

Aroma- very potent vanilla, caramel, and caramelized sugars. Taste- immediately stings the tongue with a hot spice and warmth, followed by deep oily caramels, toasted marshmallow, and a mild rye spice. Finish- I'll know tomorrow. I'm quite certain I'm still detecting notes after an hour. The sweetness comes through with some oak and wood barrel; it perfectly embodies rich and sweet.