Buffalo Trace Unveils a Pair of Ultra-Aged Weller Wheat Whiskeys

Pictured is the second edition of Weller Millennium, one of two premium Weller wheat whiskeys Buffalo Trace unveiled Friday. (Photos: Buffalo Trace)

On Friday, Buffalo Trace Distillery announced two new additions to its wheat whiskey portfolio: Weller 18 Year Old and the second edition of Weller Millennium. Both expressions aim to demonstrate the aging potential of wheat-based whiskey and build on the legacy of the Original Wheated Bourbon brand.

Weller 18 Year Old is the oldest age-stated whiskey released under the Weller name to date. Bottled at 90 proof, it features a wheat-forward mashbill and will first be sold through global travel retail outlets. Weller Millennium #2 is a blend of vintage straight wheated bourbons and wheat whiskeys distilled in 2001, 2003 and 2006.

Both whiskeys were produced at Buffalo Trace Distillery. The releases highlight the company’s continued focus on wheat as an alternative to rye in American whiskey production, a technique first attributed to William Larue Weller in the 1800s.

About Weller Millennium #2

The second edition of Weller Millennium follows its 2024 debut. This release uses a new blend of ultra-aged wheated whiskeys and comes bottled at 99 proof.

“Weller Millenium was crafted to feature some of the first whiskeys distilled in the new millennium amid a period of transformation at Buffalo Trace Distillery. Buffalo Trace Distillery Global Brand Director Andrew Duncan said in a news release. “This second edition takes last year’s release a step further, with a new blend that we humbly believe is an improvement over the well-regarded first edition.”

The whiskey offers notes of dark cherry, butterscotch and vanilla with a bold oak-forward finish, according to Buffalo Trace. It comes in a handcrafted crystal decanter with an etched “W” topper and an illuminated display case. Each release is unique due to the limited availability of the aged barrels used in blending.

Millennium #2 will be sold through Sazerac’s distributor network and at Buffalo Trace Distillery. It will be released in limited quantities through U.S. and international distributors, priced at $7,500. A limited quantity will also be auctioned via Legacy de Forge, a new Sazerac-branded platform powered by Blockbar for premium bottle sales. The bidding starts at $8,000.

About Weller 18 Year Old

Weller 18 Year Old

Weller 18 Year Old will be released at a suggested retail price of $499 per 700-milliliter bottle. The whiskey will be available first at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and London Heathrow (LHR).

“Weller 18 Year Old is the culmination of curiosity, tradition and time,” Buffalo Trace Master Distiller Harlen Wheatley said. “The softness of the wheat has evolved into something rich and wonderfully expressive. We are extremely proud of the resulting whiskey, which showcases the versatility and potential of a wheat-forward mashbill.”

The 18-year-old whiskey has aromas of aged fruit and tobacco, a palate of baking spice and green pear, and a long finish, according to the brand. It comes in a handcrafted decanter similar to Millennium’s, albeit without the illuminated display case.