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W.L. Weller Special Reserve vs Buffalo Trace
W.L. Weller Special Reserve and Buffalo Trace sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, wheat-forward classic versus an old-guard, classically built classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | W.L. Weller Special Reserve | Buffalo Trace |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) | 90 proof (45% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$30 – $60 | ~$28 – $35 ~$14 less |
| Availability | Allocated | Limited easier to find |
- W.L. Weller Special Reserve and Buffalo Trace do not publish an official mash bill.
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
W.L. Weller Special Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Buffalo Trace
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
W.L. Weller Special Reserve Buffalo Trace
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 2/5 spice: W.L. Weller Special Reserve 2 out of 10, Buffalo Trace 5 out of 10
oak 4/6 oak: W.L. Weller Special Reserve 4 out of 10, Buffalo Trace 6 out of 10
sweetness 7/6 sweetness: W.L. Weller Special Reserve 7 out of 10, Buffalo Trace 6 out of 10
heat 3/4 heat: W.L. Weller Special Reserve 3 out of 10, Buffalo Trace 4 out of 10
nuttiness 3/4 nuttiness: W.L. Weller Special Reserve 3 out of 10, Buffalo Trace 4 out of 10
fruit 5/5 fruit: W.L. Weller Special Reserve 5 out of 10, Buffalo Trace 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The gap between these two is mostly about spice.
- W.L. Weller Special Reserve: The entry point to the Weller line and an easy introduction to wheated bourbon. Soft honey and vanilla with almost no rye bite, a bread-dough body, and a short, sweet finish that asks nothing of you.
- Buffalo Trace: The reference-point Kentucky bourbon: balanced brown sugar and vanilla sweetness, a whisper of mint, and just enough oak and spice to keep it interesting. Nothing is loud, which is exactly the point at 90 proof.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with W.L. Weller Special Reserve if you want the softest, sweetest, most approachable wheated pour of the group.
- Go with Buffalo Trace if you want the balanced, everyday Kentucky benchmark that does nothing wrong at a fair price without hunting for it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, highball (W.L. Weller Special Reserve); neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Buffalo Trace).