William Larue Weller Straight Bourbon Whiskey 2024
The 2024 William Larue Weller is the wheated centerpiece of the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection (BTAC), the annual fall release from Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky. This year's barrels were distilled in the winter of 2012, entered the barrel at 114 proof, and spent 12 years and 6 months aging on the lower floors of a Buffalo Trace rickhouse before being hand-bottled uncut and unfiltered at 125.8 proof. The 2024 release also landed on a milestone year: the 25th anniversary of the Weller brand at Buffalo Trace.
- Type: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
- Distillery: Buffalo Trace Distillery, Frankfort, Kentucky
- Collection: Buffalo Trace Antique Collection (BTAC), 2024 release
- Distilled: Winter 2012
- Age: 12 years, 6 months
- Mashbill: Wheated (Buffalo Trace wheated recipe – corn, wheat, malted barley)
- ABV/Proof: 62.9% ABV / 125.8 proof (uncut, unfiltered)
- Size: 750mL
The Story Behind the 2024 Release
William Larue Weller honors W.L. Weller, the Kentucky distiller credited with pioneering the wheated bourbon recipe — swapping the traditional rye grain for wheat to produce a softer, rounder whiskey. That same wheated recipe anchors this Antique Collection flagship today. Because the barrels rest on the rickhouse's lower floors, where temperatures swing less than up top, the 2024 developed at a gentler pace, and its 125.8 bottling proof sits a touch below the 2025's 133.6 — a difference that comes from the barrels themselves, not from any dilution. Every bottle is filled straight from the barrel, with nothing cut and nothing filtered out.
Tasting Notes (2024 Release)
- Nose: New leather and a whisper of pipe tobacco over caramel, with a marshmallow-like sweetness and hints of ripe fruit
- Palate: Deep caramel and toffee coat the palate, carried by the soft, rounded weight of the wheat
- Finish: Long and warming, with oak, caramel, and fruit notes lingering well after the sip
How to Enjoy
Pour it neat first — at barrel proof, this is the whiskey exactly as it left the barrel. A few drops of water will open up the caramel and fruit, and a single large cube softens the edges without washing out the finish. However you take it, this is a bottle built for slow pours and special occasions.
Why It's Special
- Wheated Mashbill: Wheat in place of rye gives a softer, sweeter profile than the rye-spiced bourbons elsewhere in the Antique Collection.
- Barrel Proof Authenticity: Bottled uncut and unfiltered at 125.8 proof, showcasing the whiskey at full natural strength.
- Collector's Prestige: One of the most allocated and sought-after bottles in the BTAC lineup, released once a year in limited quantities.
- A Milestone Vintage: The 2024 release marks 25 years of the Weller brand at Buffalo Trace Distillery.
Frequently Asked Questions
What proof is the 2024 William Larue Weller?
The 2024 release is bottled at 125.8 proof (62.9% ABV). Like every William Larue Weller, it is uncut and unfiltered, so the proof is simply where the barrels landed after 12 years and 6 months of aging.
How old is William Larue Weller 2024?
It was distilled in the winter of 2012 and aged for 12 years and 6 months on the lower floors of a Buffalo Trace rickhouse in Frankfort, Kentucky.
Is William Larue Weller a wheated bourbon?
Yes. It follows the wheated recipe W.L. Weller pioneered, using wheat instead of rye as the flavoring grain alongside corn and malted barley.
How does the 2024 compare to the 2025 William Larue Weller?
The 2024 was distilled in winter 2012 and bottled at 125.8 proof, while the 2025 release came from spring 2013 distillate bottled at 133.6 proof. The 2024 pours a little softer and rounder; the 2025 runs hotter and bolder.
Where can I buy William Larue Weller 2024?
Right here — the William Larue Weller Straight Bourbon Whiskey 2024 is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor while our small allocation lasts. Browse more allocated bottles in our bourbon whiskey and whisky collections.