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Age: 12 Years Old (2017 Release) | Region: Frankfort, Kentucky, USA | Proof: 128.2
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William Larue Weller Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is Buffalo Trace's uncompromised wheated, barrel-proof flagship expression. The historic 2017 installment was distilled inside a select winter 2005 production block, aged for 12 comprehensive years across multiple warehouse climates, and bottled completely uncut and unfiltered at an authoritative 128.2 proof.

The Technical Distinction
  • Wheated Bourbon Subversion: Plump winter wheat entirely replaces traditional rye as the secondary grain variables to construct a softer, rounder texturing.
  • Cask Strength Purity: Presented completely free of post-barrel water manipulation or modern chill-filtration loops at a precise 128.2 proof (64.1% ABV).
  • Multi-Warehouse Complexity: Vatted from an exceptional seasonal cooperage lot rested across the distinct environments of Warehouses D, I, and P.
  • Expanded Vintage Yield: Composed of a selected small batch layout of 155 barrels total, providing a highly complex depth profile.
Sensory Profile

Nose: A rich, warm bouquet of sweet cream caramel, fresh coffee cake, and deeply roasted dark coffee beans opens immediately.

Palate: Highly viscous, creamy, and fruit-forward; an intense "cherry bomb" presence dominates the entry before dissolving into rich layers of dark brown sugar.

Finish: Substantially long and warming; trailing notes of soft wheated grain sweetness settle gracefully alongside lingering oak wood vanillins.

Strategic Position

Serving as the lone wheated bourbon representative of the annual series, this expression is prized for achieving a beautifully intense, fruit-forward texturing. At 128.2 proof, it balances heavy wood concentration with soft grain sweetness, positioning it as an ideal back-catalog partner to the high-production 2017 Stagg edition from the exact same fall release block. It remains an elite landmark piece across our complete whiskey collection.

Technical Specifications
Distillery Buffalo Trace Distillery, Frankfort, Kentucky
Category Wheated Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (Cask Strength)
Mash Bill Matrix Buffalo Trace Wheated Recipe (Corn, Wheat, Malted Barley)
Age Statement No Age Statement; aged 12 Years (Distilled Winter 2005)
Proof / ABV 128.2 Proof / 64.1% ABV
Bottling Line Completely Uncut and Unfiltered (Barrel Proof Run)
Warehouse Sourcing Warehouses D, I, and P Asset Mappings
Batch Allocation Size Select Small Batch Vatying of 155 Barrels Total
Release Context 2017 Buffalo Trace Antique Collection (Annual Fall Allocation)
Bottle Size 750 ml
Regulatory Stamp DSP-KY-113
Origin Terroir United States · Kentucky
Collector Note

The 2017 allocation arrives dressed in the portfolio's iconic deep red closure head foil, featuring the strict barrel-proof indicator details directly on the glass display face. Because internal microclimates across distinct storage ricks create entirely unique evaporation curves across seasons, this 155-barrel vintage run delivers immense historical value for serious completists. Chronologically, it provides a fascinating comparative baseline directly preceding the single-warehouse architecture observed in the 2019 Weller release inside archives curated by Midnight Whiskey.

Recommended Serving

To fully chart its complex fruit profiles and rich coffee cake nuances without overloading the palate, enjoy this spirit completely neat at room temperature first. While its heavy oil content carries the 128.2 proof line beautifully, introducing a few drops of pure water inside a tulip glass safely opens up the underlying brown sugar and soft wheated textures flawlessly.

Production Methodology

This whiskey draws its core character entirely from the distillery's prized wheated mash profile, substituting standard rye grains for soft winter wheat to construct an inherently sweeter distillate molecule. The specific barrels chosen for this 2017 allocation run were distilled in the winter of 2005 and matured for twelve years across the timber configurations of Warehouses D, I, and P. Bottled completely free of post-barrel water injection or chill-filtration setups, it retains its natural wood vanillins intact under the long-standing management parameters of the Sazerac Company. It shares its ancestral mash lineage directly with the legacy standard Weller and Pappy Van Winkle lines managed under the wider **Sazerac** portfolio matrix.

Vault Integrity & Sourcing Standards

Every bottle handled by Midnight Whiskey is procured strictly through authorized, verified allocation channels and passes rigorous physical seal and label inspection points before being logged into inventory. Shipments are handled via specialized, glass-rated container packaging and absolute age-verification checks; an adult signature (21+) is strictly mandatory upon delivery. Review our complete protocols via our editorial and authentication standards.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many barrels went into the 2017 William Larue Weller?

The 2017 **William Larue Weller** came from 155 barrels, distilled in the winter of 2005 and aged about 12 years in Warehouses D, I, and P. It is bottled uncut and unfiltered at 128.2 proof (64.1% ABV), representing the flagship wheated bourbon option of the annual collection tier. **Buffalo Trace** published per-release barrel metrics through the 2018 cycle.

Is the 2017 William Larue Weller related to Pappy Van Winkle?

Yes, indirectly: both use a wheated mash bill, with soft winter wheat in place of rye as the secondary grain variable. **William Larue Weller** is the barrel-strength wheated bourbon of the Antique Collection; the 2017 release was distilled in winter 2005, aged 12 years across select ricks, and bottled at 128.2 proof. Pappy Van Winkle uses the same underlying recipe family handled by the **Sazerac Company**.

Shipping information

Adult Signature Required: Federal law requires an adult (21+) with a valid government ID to sign for all deliveries. Carriers cannot leave alcohol unattended.

Processing Time: Most orders process within 1–8 business days. You will receive a tracking number via email as soon as your bottle ships.

Insured Shipping: We strongly recommend electing Shipping Protection at checkout. Midnight Whiskey is not liable for loss or damage once in the carrier's possession unless insurance is purchased.

Restrictions: We ship only within the permitted U.S. states and cannot deliver to P.O. Boxes or U.S. Territories.

All Sales Final: Due to alcohol regulations, we cannot accept returns for change of mind.

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