From the World’s Most Award-winning Distillery comes the Weller Special Reserve, an especially mellow, smooth, and delightfully honeyed bourbon, that lends itself beautifully to cocktails.

We recently got the chance to taste Weller Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, the World’s Original and one of the Most Awarded Wheated Bourbon Whiskeys. What makes bourbon special is that it is always made in the US, from at least 51% corn, distilled to a proof no higher than 79.5 ABV, with no colouring or flavouring, and aged in new charred oak barrels, for a minimum of two years. Most bourbons are made in Kentucky, although that is not an absolute.

Knowing that Weller hails from Buffalo Trace Distillery, the World’s Most Award-Winning Distillery and oldest continuously operating distillery in the USA, it is typical of the craftsmanship, innovation and storied American whiskey-making tradition of that area. So along with the corn essential for bourbon, Weller is famous for using wheat instead of rye in its recipe, for the mash. This gives Weller a soft, smooth and complex taste profile. What we tasted was the Weller Special Reserve (the Weller 12 Years Old is also available in India.)

The Weller brand is named after William Larue Weller who revolutionized bourbon in America in the early 1800s by replacing rye with wheat in the whiskey’s mashbill, a process that resulted in a much softer, yet still elegant and refined, drinking experience. Over the years Weller Bourbon has gained international acclaim with hundreds of accolades to its name.

The Weller Special Reserve, when poured into a tumbler or glass, looks inviting, with its burnt orange golden colour and aromatic, sweet taste, with notes of honey and caramel. It is this very softness of flavour that makes this bourbon great for cocktails, such as the classic Paper Plane recipe. Or, you can also enjoy it, as we did, neat, with a splash of water, or on the rocks.

Weller Special Reserve is available across India for a maximum price ranging from approx INR 2,500 INR - 4,500 INR (Pricing varies by market, and local taxes and fees apply.)