Weller 12
“Things are not always what they seem; the first appearance deceives many; the intelligence of a few perceives what has been carefully hidden”
A screw top. A terrible bottle design. A label that looks like it was designed on MS Paint and printed out on cheap sticky-back plastic. The age-old saying 'Don't judge a book by its cover' has never been more true. Weller is a stunning 12-year-old bourbon that has become something of a celebrity in the bourbon world. If you want to know why then feel free to read every other review of Weller 12 on the internet and they will all tell you. We however, are going to break the cycle, and there will be no mention of the 'P' word in this review.
Weller 12 is a 'wheater'. Which essentially means it swaps out rye as the secondary grain and uses wheat instead. This adds a creaminess to the taste and removes some (but not all) of the spice and pepper that the rye brings. If Mav could go back in time to high-five historical figures then Mr Weller would be one of them as legend has it that he was the first to pioneer this mash-bill. What a man in the 1800s would make of being high-fived is anyone's guess.
Seriously, who decided on the screw top? The only thing that lets this bourbon down is the design choices that went into making the bottle. Maybe the Sazerac work experience kid was handed the reins for this one? Whatever the reason, it is vastly overshadowed by just how good the liquid is inside it.
It gets better the longer you spend with it too. It's not a bourbon for those looking for instant gratification. Take your time with it, let it sit for a while and you'll find that the nose changes and opens up more. The palate is complex and spins around the flavour wheel with cherry bakewell, caramel butter, burnt oak and a touch of spice. This bourbon begs for repeated visits - something which the Gents are only too happy to oblige with.
