Buffalo Trace’s New Weller Bourbon Is Made With an Ancient Wheat

(Photo: Buffalo Trace)

On Tuesday, Buffalo Trace Distillery announced the release of Daniel Weller Spelt Wheat, the second edition in its experimental Daniel Weller bourbon series. The 10-year-old bourbon is bottled at 94 proof and will be available in limited quantities across select U.S. retailers, bars and restaurants starting March, with a suggested retail price of $549.99 per 750-milliliter bottle.

The Daniel Weller line, first launched in 2023 with Emmer Wheat, examines how individual wheat varieties impact the flavor of Weller, the Original Wheated Bourbon. This edition uses spelt wheat, a grain recognized for its subtle sweetness and nutty character, rarely used in whiskey production.

Spelt is a species of Triticum, a large stout grass similar to bread wheat that dates back to ancient times. According to Nature’s Legacy, spelt is mentioned multiiple times in the Bible, and it’s believed that farmers grew it as far back as 5000 BC in Mesopotamia.

“Rather than leaning on barrel innovation, we chose to strip the process back and let the wheat speak for itself,” Buffalo Trace Master Distiller Harlen Wheatley said in a news release. “By avoiding specialized barrel treatments and techniques, we were able to focus on how spelt wheat’s natural sweetness and distinct character influence the Weller mashbill. Its nuanced profile makes it ideal for experiments where the grain’s personality is meant to shine.”

According to Buffalo Trace, the whiskey opens with aromas of freshly baked cookies, clove, cinnamon, nutmeg, light fresh fruit, subtle leather, and underlying notes of butterscotch, caramel, vanilla, and oak. The palate is said to feature dried fruit, gentle sweetness, and baking spices, with a restrained floral, tea-like dimension. The finish is described as long, carrying soft fruit, nuttiness, and light spice with lingering sweetness.

Each bottle includes a compass stopper engraved with the coordinates of Daniel Weller’s farm near Botland, Kentucky. The line is part of the broader Weller portfolio, which includes Weller Special Reserve, Weller Antique 107, Weller 12 Year Old, Weller Full Proof, Weller C.Y.P.B., Weller Single Barrel, and William Larue Weller.

Daniel Weller, who settled in Kentucky in 1794, played a formative role in the family’s bourbon-making tradition. By operating and leasing his still to other distillers, he influenced early bourbon production and helped establish the wheated bourbon style.

Buffalo Trace Distillery, founded in 1775 and based in Frankfort, Kentucky, produces bourbon, rye, and vodka on site. The distillery is a National Historic Landmark and has received more than 1,000 awards for its spirits.