WL Weller bottles its oldest whiskey to date
Buffalo Trace Distillery has expanded the WL Weller range with two new whiskeys, including its oldest age statement to date.
The Sazerac-owned brand’s two new releases are the second edition of Weller Millennium, an ultra-aged blend, and WL Weller 18 Years Old, the brand’s oldest age statement to date.
Produced at the Buffalo Trace distillery since 1999, the wheated Bourbon brand was introduced by William Larue Weller in 1847.
The new releases join the brand’s range, which includes Antique, Full Proof, Special Reserve, a 12-year-old, CYPB, and Single Barrel expressions. Other whiskeys in the Weller family include the Antique Collection annual limited release, William Larue Weller, and experimental Daniel Weller, launched in 2023.
Weller Millennium Second Edition, a blend of vintage straight wheated Bourbon and wheat whiskeys, follows the inaugural release, introduced in May 2024.
Like its predecessor, each component was distilled at Buffalo Trace Distillery in 2001, 2003, and 2006, and set aside solely to create the blend as a tribute to WL Weller.
Andrew Duncan, global brand director at Buffalo Trace Distillery, said: “Weller Millennium was crafted to feature some of the first whiskeys distilled in the new millennium amid a period of transformation at Buffalo Trace Distillery.
“This second edition takes last year’s release a step further, with a new blend that we humbly believe is an improvement over the well-regarded first edition. By carefully selecting and blending barrels dating back to the early 2000s, we have revisited a chapter in the distillery’s history that shaped who we are today.”
Bottled at 49.5% ABV, the second edition of Weller Millennium offers notes of dark cherry, rich butterscotch, vanilla, and oak.
The limited release, which, according to the brand, will not be replicated in the future, is encased in a 750ml crystal decanter topped with a custom-made crystal topper and accompanied by a pearl-white display box.
Weller Millennium Second Edition will be available in limited quantities through Sazerac’s distributor networks in the US and globally, starting in July 2025. The suggested retail price for the expression is US$7,500; however, taxes may vary depending on the market.
Additionally, a limited supply will be available for purchase at Buffalo Trace Distillery and directly from Legacy de Forge, a new global platform by Sazerac, powered by Blockbar.
WL Weller 18 Years Old
The oldest age statement expression in the WL Weller wheelhouse, the 18-year-old, joins the brand’s line-up at 45% ABV.
Harlen Wheatley, master distiller of Buffalo Trace Distillery, said: “Weller 18-year-old is the culmination of curiosity, tradition and time. The softness of the wheat has evolved into something rich and wonderfully expressive.
“We are extremely proud of the resulting whiskey, which showcases the versatility and potential of a wheat-forward mash bill.”
WL Weller 18 Years Old displays aromas of aged fruits and tobacco, followed on the palate by warm baking spices and crisp green pear notes.
The wheated Bourbon is presented in a 700ml handcrafted crystal decanter, accompanied by a custom-made crystal topper.
The inaugural release will be available exclusively in global travel retail (GTR) at airports, including Los Angeles International (LAX), John F Kennedy International (JFK), and London Heathrow (LHR), starting July 2025.
The wheated Bourbon has a suggested retail price of US$499.
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