There are bourbons you drink, and then there are bourbons that stop you mid-conversation. William Larue Weller 2008, bottled in 2020 after twelve years in barrel, is firmly in the second category. This is part of the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection — the annual release that sends bourbon hunters into a frenzy — and having finally got my hands on a pour, I can tell you the reputation is earned.
Let's talk about what makes this bottle special. William Larue Weller is a wheated bourbon, meaning the secondary grain in the mashbill is wheat rather than rye. That's the same family as Pappy Van Winkle, and it matters because wheat tends to produce a softer, rounder, more approachable spirit — even at punishing proof. And this one comes in at 67.25% ABV. That's 134.5 proof. This is not a casual sipper unless you know what you're doing with a water dropper.
What to Expect
Twelve years is a serious amount of time for a bourbon to sit in new charred oak, especially in a Kentucky rickhouse where summer temperatures push the spirit deep into the wood. At that age and that proof, you're getting an incredibly concentrated whisky. The wheated mashbill should deliver richness — think dark caramel, baked fruit, vanilla that's gone deep and complex rather than simple and sweet. The barrel-strength bottling means nothing has been stripped out. Every bit of character that developed over those twelve years is right there in the glass.
The 2008 vintage, bottled in 2020, puts this distillation squarely in a period when Buffalo Trace was producing consistently excellent wheated bourbon. Each year's William Larue Weller release varies — different entry proof, different warehouse placement, different age — and that's part of what makes the Antique Collection so collectible. This particular release has had time to develop real depth.
The Verdict
At £2,500, this is obviously not an everyday purchase. You're paying for scarcity, for pedigree, and for a bourbon that genuinely delivers complexity you won't find in most bottles at any price. I'm giving it an 8.2 out of 10 — it's an exceptional wheated bourbon with the kind of intensity and depth that barrel-strength age-stated releases are supposed to deliver. The proof is high but not aggressive for what it is, and the twelve-year maturation puts it in a sweet spot where oak influence enriches rather than overwhelms. It loses a fraction only because at this price point, you're paying a significant premium for the name and the hunt. The liquid is outstanding, but the market has pushed this well beyond what even excellent bourbon should cost.
If you're lucky enough to have a bottle or find a pour at a bar, it's absolutely worth experiencing. This is benchmark wheated bourbon — the kind of whisky that reminds you why this category generates so much excitement.
Best Served
Pour it neat in a Glencairn or a wide-rimmed rocks glass and let it breathe for a good five to ten minutes. At 67.25% ABV, a few drops of water aren't just acceptable — they're recommended. Add water gradually and you'll watch this bourbon open up with each drop. Don't you dare put this in a cocktail. At £2,500 a bottle, the only thing this should be mixed with is good conversation and maybe a comfortable chair.
