Daniel Weller Emmer Wheat Recipe Bourbon Whiskey
Daniel Weller Emmer Wheat Recipe Bourbon Whiskey is Buffalo Trace's experiment in ancient grain — a 750mL bottle at 94 proof of Kentucky straight wheated bourbon aged nearly 12 years, built on emmer wheat, one of the world's oldest cultivated grains. The inaugural release (2023) of the Daniel Weller Experimental Line asks what happens when the Weller family's soft red winter wheat is swapped for a 5,000-year-old Egyptian varietal. The answer: a rounder, nuttier wheated bourbon with deep oak integration. It is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- ABV: 47% (94 proof)
- Size: 750mL
- Age: nearly 12 years
- Mash bill: corn, emmer wheat, malted barley (wheated)
- Line: Daniel Weller Experimental Line — inaugural release, 2023; new experiments planned every other year
- Origin: Buffalo Trace Distillery, Frankfort, Kentucky
An Ancient Grain Meets the Weller Legacy
William Larue Weller is credited as one of the first to sell a wheated bourbon in Kentucky; his grandfather Daniel Weller — the experimental line's namesake — fought in the Revolutionary War, flatboated down the Ohio River, and settled in Kentucky in 1794, distilling whiskey that his son's stills would carry forward to W.L. Weller & Sons. Master Distiller Harlen Wheatley built this first experiment on emmer, an ancient Egyptian wheat rarely seen in modern stills: the nose is fresh and nutty with orange zest, hazelnut, cinnamon and caramel; the palate blends bold oak, sweet honey and orchard fruits; the finish is oak-forward with baking spice and leather. Browse more W.L. Weller, explore other Buffalo Trace experiments, or compare with the store's wheated bourbons.
Tasting Notes
Fresh and nutty on the nose — orange zest, hazelnut, cinnamon and caramel. The palate is well-rounded: bold oak, sweet honey and orchard fruits with a distinctive nutty depth from the ancient grain. The finish is long and complex, oak-forward, with baking spice and lingering leather.
How to Enjoy
Neat in a Glencairn, with a splash of water to open the nutty aromatics. This is a collector's pour and a conversation piece — taste it against Weller 12 to see what the emmer changes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is emmer wheat?
An ancient Egyptian wheat varietal, one of the earliest cultivated grains — used here in place of the soft red winter wheat in standard Weller bourbons.
Who was Daniel Weller?
The grandfather of William Larue Weller: a Revolutionary War veteran who settled in Kentucky in 1794 and founded the family's distilling tradition.
Is Daniel Weller a limited release?
Yes — the inaugural release of an experimental line, with one limited expression planned every other year.
Ancient grain, modern legend — order Daniel Weller Emmer Wheat Recipe Bourbon online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.