Wheated bourbon swaps rye for wheat as the secondary grain, trading bourbon's usual spice for a softer, sweeter, honeyed pour — the recipe family behind Weller and, famously, Pappy Van Winkle. At Del Mesa Liquor, our family-owned store in San Diego, California, the bourbon whiskey collection runs from Larceny at $26.99 to the 12-year-old Weller at $169.99 — and every bottle below is in stock and available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor.
The Everyday Wheaters: Larceny and Maker's Mark 46
Larceny Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey ($26.99) is Heaven Hill's wheated small batch from Bardstown: bottled at 92 proof (46% ABV), built from batches of 100 or fewer barrels selected to a six-year-old taste profile. The name nods to John E. Fitzgerald, the Treasury agent said to have "stolen" the finest barrels for himself — Larceny is heir to his Old Fitzgerald wheated-bourbon legacy. Maker's Mark No. 46 Bourbon Whiskey ($44.99) starts as fully matured Maker's Mark — a wheated mash of 70% corn, 16% soft red winter wheat and 14% malted barley — then finishes with ten seared French oak staves for about nine weeks in the distillery's limestone cellar, bottled at 94 proof (47% ABV). Launched in 2010 by Bill Samuels Jr., it was the first new Maker's expression in roughly 50 years. For the bonded end of the wheated shelf, see our bottled-in-bond guide.
The Bottles in Stock
- Larceny Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey — $26.99. 750mL, 46% ABV (92 proof). Heaven Hill wheated small batch — 100 or fewer barrels, six-year-old taste profile.
- Maker's Mark No. 46 Bourbon Whiskey — $44.99. 750mL, 47% ABV (94 proof). Wheated mash finished with ten seared French oak staves in a limestone cellar.
- Weller Special Reserve Wheated Bourbon — $59.99. 750mL, 45% ABV (90 proof). Buffalo Trace — the original wheated bourbon, gentle and honeyed.
- Weller Antique 107 Wheated Bourbon Whiskey — $119.99. 750mL, 53.5% ABV (107 proof). The full-bodied, high-proof sibling of Special Reserve.
- Weller 12 Year Old Bourbon Whiskey — $169.99. 750mL, 45% ABV (90 proof). Twelve years in oak — the longest-aged member of the Weller core lineup.
The Weller Ladder: One Recipe, Three Proofs of Patience
All three Wellers come from Buffalo Trace in Frankfort, Kentucky, carrying the recipe William Larue Weller pioneered in the 19th century — wheat in place of rye. Weller Special Reserve ($59.99) at 90 proof is the gentle entry: sweet caramel and honey with soft woodiness and a honeysuckle finish. Weller Antique 107 ($119.99) pours the same wheated character at a full 107 proof — full-bodied and bold, built for slow sipping. Weller 12 Year Old ($169.99) trades proof for time: twelve years in oak at 90 proof, with toffee, baked apple and mature oak over the signature softness — a Double Gold winner at the 2019 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, and the closest widely available pour to its Pappy cousins. Compare the allocated end of the shelf in our rare bourbon guide and the store's own picks in the single barrel bourbon guide; shipping terms are on the shipping and returns page, and more guides live on the Del Mesa blog index.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is wheated bourbon?
Wheated bourbon is bourbon whose secondary grain is wheat instead of the more common rye. Because bourbon must be at least 51% corn, the choice of secondary grain shapes the flavour: rye adds spice and snap, while wheat gives a softer, sweeter, smoother pour — the style William Larue Weller pioneered and Buffalo Trace still bottles under his name.
What is the difference between Weller Special Reserve, Antique 107 and Weller 12?
All three share Buffalo Trace's wheated recipe. Special Reserve ($59.99) is bottled at 90 proof and pours gentle and honeyed. Antique 107 ($119.99) is the same character at a bold 107 proof. Weller 12 ($169.99) is aged twelve years — the longest-aged core Weller — and bottled at 90 proof for depth over heat.
Is Maker's Mark a wheated bourbon?
Yes. Maker's Mark uses a mash of 70% corn, 16% soft red winter wheat and 14% malted barley, with no rye at all. Maker's Mark 46 ($44.99) takes that wheated bourbon and finishes it with ten seared French oak staves for about nine weeks, bottled at 94 proof.
Where can I buy wheated bourbon online?
Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, California stocks Larceny, Maker's Mark 46, Weller Special Reserve, Weller Antique 107 and Weller 12 Year Old, all available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor with nationwide shipping where permitted.