Saturday, April 23, 2011

Old Weller Antique

stats: Kentucky Straight Bourbon, 107 proof, 7 year, $19

This is a "wheated" bourbon. What does that mean? By law, bourbon has to be made from 51% to 80% corn. The rest of the ingredients must be a combination of barley, rye or wheat. Most bourbons use 5% to 10% malted barley, and rye for the remainder. A few brands, including Weller, Van Winkle, and Makers Mark use wheat in addition to the corn and malted barley. The wheat tends to add sweetness and a softer character to the whiskey, where rye adds spicy flavors and a bolder character. Of course, there are several other factors that can influence the flavor of a whiskey. The Weller Antique isn't what I'd expect from a wheated bourbon. It's big and bold. The nose isn't too impressive, it's kind of harsh. There's a bit of a burn on the palette, but there's enough flavor there to balance it out. The flavor is big and quite spicy. It's simple, nothing subtle or delicate about it. Not very complex, but still well balanced. It has a nice long finish, with the spicy flavors really hanging on. Overall, a good straight forward whiskey at a reasonable price.

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