William Larue Weller Barrel Proof: The Greatest Wheated Bourbon in the BTAC

The Man Behind the Wheat

William La Rue Weller was a 19th-century Kentucky whiskey merchant credited as one of the first to use wheat instead of rye as bourbon's secondary grain — the recipe that eventually became the Stitzel-Weller mashbill, and the same lineage behind Pappy Van Winkle. Buffalo Trace revived his name for this release when the Antique Collection launched in 2000, giving wheated-bourbon fans a barrel-proof option outside the Van Winkle allocation entirely.

Barrel Proof, No Compromises

Like every BTAC release, William Larue Weller is bottled uncut and unfiltered at whatever proof the selected barrels land on — 62.4% ABV (124.8 proof) this release. Despite that strength, wheated bourbon's defining trait is how smooth it stays even at cask strength, since wheat brings less spice and more roundness to the grain bill than rye.

Tasting Notes

Honey, caramel and vanilla lead, with the wheat keeping the whole thing silky rather than sharp — a texture that lets the proof show up as warmth rather than heat. It's frequently cited as the most approachable of the five BTAC releases despite being just as strong as the rest.

Buying It at Caskworth

Caskworth carries William Larue Weller Barrel Proof at $499.99, alongside George T. Stagg Barrel Proof at $449.99 for collectors building out the full Antique Collection. Same-day delivery is available to 33 U.S. states and 7 Canadian provinces.

William Larue Weller vs. Weller Full Proof

William Larue Weller ($499.99, 62.4% ABV) is the allocated BTAC release; Weller Full Proof ($219.99, 57% ABV) is the more attainable annual standard bottling. Both share the same wheated mash bill made famous by Pappy Van Winkle, but William Larue Weller is bottled undiluted straight from the barrel each year.