W.L. Weller Special Reserve
Frankfort, Kentucky
Buffalo Trace's entry wheated bourbon at 90 proof, with wheat replacing rye as the flavouring grain. There is no official age statement, with retail estimates ranging from four to eight years. The mashbill percentages are not published.
- Aging
- New charred oak, no age statement
- Congeners
- High
- Histamines
- Moderate
- Polyphenols
- Moderate
- Sulfites
- Very Low
- Tannins
- Moderate
- Sugar
- Low
- Additives
- Very Low
- Calories
- 110
- Sugar
- 0g
15.8g ethanol at 45% ABV. No sugar, so every calorie here is alcohol.
In its favor
- ✓Wheated mash = gentler profile than a rye bourbon
- ✓No additives permitted in bourbon
What to watch
- !Barley and wheat in the mash = gluten grains
- !No age statement
Factor by factor
Congeners High ▾
Byproducts of fermentation (methanol, acetaldehyde, fusel alcohols). Strongly linked to hangover severity; darker, less-distilled spirits carry more.
Histamines Moderate ▾
Produced by bacteria during fermentation/aging. Trigger flushing, headaches, congestion in sensitive drinkers. High in red wine, beer, aged spirits.
Polyphenols Moderate ▾
Plant compounds with antioxidant activity. Slightly protective at low doses but at high concentrations may worsen hangover via tannin/quercetin reactions.
Sulfites Very Low ▾
Preservatives (SO₂) added to wine and some beers. Common trigger of headaches, asthma, and allergic-type reactions.
Tannins Moderate ▾
Astringent polyphenols from skins, seeds, barrels. Bind proteins, slow alcohol clearance, and aggravate dehydration-style symptoms.
Sugar Low ▾
Residual sugar amplifies hangover via blood-sugar swings and dehydration. Liqueurs and cocktails are the main offenders.
Additives Very Low ▾
Colorants, flavorings, glycerin, propylene glycol, sorbates. Cheap spirits and ready-to-drinks often hide these in trade-secret formulas.
Weller Special Reserve is the affordable end of Buffalo Trace’s wheated line, the same family of recipes as the far scarcer Pappy Van Winkle bottlings. At 90 proof and without a rye component it behaves like Maker’s Mark on this site: a real new-oak load, with a slightly gentler grain contribution.
W.L. Weller Special Reserve questions
How many calories are in a shot of W.L. Weller Special Reserve? ▾
About 110 calories in a 1.5oz shot at 45% ABV. All of them come from the alcohol, since there is no sugar.
Does W.L. Weller Special Reserve have sugar? ▾
No. W.L. Weller Special Reserve has 0g of sugar per 1.5oz serving.
Is W.L. Weller Special Reserve gluten-free? ▾
Not by label. W.L. Weller Special Reserve is distilled from a gluten-containing grain, so US rules bar it from claiming gluten-free. Distillation does remove the gluten protein, and the Celiac Disease Foundation considers distilled spirits safe for most coeliacs. If you would rather avoid the question, pick a spirit distilled from corn, potato, grape or agave.
What proof is W.L. Weller Special Reserve? ▾
W.L. Weller Special Reserve is 90 proof, which is 45% alcohol by volume.
Does W.L. Weller Special Reserve give you a bad hangover? ▾
W.L. Weller Special Reserve scores 6/10 on the SpiritFacts Hangover Index, against 7/10 for bourbon overall. The main drivers are its congeners.
Is W.L. Weller Special Reserve vegan? ▾
Yes. W.L. Weller Special Reserve is listed as vegan, with no animal-derived ingredients or fining agents.