Buffalo Trace Distillery announces Weller Millennium: an ultra-aged expression

The world’s most awarded distillery pays homage to its own transformation at the turn of the millennium with its latest luxury innovation

FRANKFURT, Kentucky (May 16, 2024) — Buffalo Trace Distillery is excited to announce Weller Millennium, a one-of-a-kind ultra-aged whiskey from the Original Wheated Bourbon brand. This category-defining innovation is comprised of a blend of vintage straight bourbon and wheat whiskeys that were distilled at the turn of the millennium and matured at the Buffalo Trace Distillery for varying lengths of time.

As the third oldest operating distillery in the world, with roots dating back to 1773, the Buffalo Trace Distillery (as it is known today) has been honing its craft since Kentucky was a wild, untamed frontier and the United States was just an idea. Over the centuries that followed, the site changed hands numerous times, but one thing always remained constant: it was the place where authentic American whiskey was created.

At the turn of the millennium, the distillery found itself once again in a period of transformation and drawing inspiration from its ancestors. A pioneer in the industry, the distilling team chose to pay homage to WL Weller by reserving some of the first whiskeys distilled in the new millennium for the sole purpose of creating this extraordinary innovation.

“At Buffalo Trace Distillery, our motto is “Honor Tradition, Embrace Change,” says Harlen Wheatley, Master Distiller at Buffalo Trace Distillery. “As we constantly seek to produce the finest whiskey in the world, we often hold back small batches of barrels to continue aging beyond our brand’s usual standards, in the hope that this aging experimentation results in a matured and particularly balanced. In this case, we found the whiskey distilled in 2000 to have incredible balance and wondered how the wheat would fare as an ultra-aged spirit. It has proven to be an impeccable backbone of this expression, allowing us to showcase the versatility of wheat and innovate beyond traditional wheat bourbon.

A blend of pure vintage bourbon and wheat whiskeys distilled in 2000, 2003, 2005 and 2006, Weller Millennium highlights the impact of wheat on the flavor of the whiskey: the sweetness imparted by wheat creates a softer, sweeter and more expressive expression. accessible. By marrying these exceptional spirits, the whiskeys further integrate and harmonize with each other, creating a cohesive and balanced end product that is greater than the sum of its parts.

“In the 1840s, William Larue Weller created a legendary legacy by being one of the first to use wheat as an ingredient, making Weller the world’s original wheat bourbon. Using wheat instead of rye in the mashbill brought exceptional accessibility with complexity of flavor,” says Andrew Duncan, Global Brand Director of Buffalo Trace Distillery. “Today, wheat-based recipes make up some of the world’s most coveted whiskeys, among which Weller has gained global recognition as the most awarded brand from the world’s most awarded distillery. Having patiently waited for these exceptional whiskeys to reach our standard, we are pleased to present Weller Millenium as the pinnacle expression of the brand. This world-class expression captures the spirit of the incredible optimism felt at the turn of the millennium, while charting a path into the future as a world-renowned wheat brand.

On the nose, Weller M exhibits rich caramel and toffee notes, indicating prolonged interaction with oak barrels that lead to oak woodiness, with layers of depth and complexity resulting from years of maturation. Subtle but distinct notes of dried fruit, like figs or raisins, and a touch of stone fruit persist throughout. Sweet caramel notes linger on the palate and finish with a significant woody influence, imparting a subtle dryness and a lingering feeling of refinement.

In a presentation tailored to the liquid it contains, Weller Millennium is housed in a handcrafted 750ml crystal decanter with a bespoke crystal top hand engraved with WL Weller’s original ‘W’ seal of quality . An illuminated display envelops the 99-proof bottling with exactly 99 bursts while sharing the percentages of each vintage spirit inside the bottle.

Weller Millenium will be released in limited quantities through distributor networks in the United States and internationally, which will ship to retailers, bars and restaurants beginning in June 2024 at a suggested retail price of $7,500 (750 ml); taxes vary by market. It joins the Weller portfolio including Weller Special Reserve, Weller Antique 107, Weller 12-Year-Old, Weller Full Proof, Weller CYPB (“Craft Your Perfect Bourbon”) and Weller Single Barrel; Daniel Weller Emmer Wheat, from his experimental line; and William Larue Weller, which is released each fall as part of the Buffalo Trace Antique collection.

About Buffalo Trace Distillery

Buffalo Trace Distillery is an American family-owned business based in Frankfort, Kentucky. The distillery’s rich tradition dates back to 1775 and includes legends such as EH Taylor, Jr., George T. Stagg, Albert B. Blanton, Orville Schupp and Elmer T. Lee. The Buffalo Trace Distillery is a fully operational distillery producing bourbon, rye and vodka on site and is a National Historic Landmark and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The distillery has won 40 distillery titles since 2000 from such notable publications as Whiskey Magazine, Whiskey Advocate Magazine and Wine Enthusiast Magazine. Its George T. Stagg was named World Whiskey of the Year 2022 and its Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Rye was named 2sd World’s Best Whiskey for 2022. Buffalo Trace Distillery has also won over 1,000 awards for its wide range of premium whiskeys. Buffalo Trace Distillery is also deeply committed to supporting charitable initiatives. Nonprofit organizations interested in learning more about the distillery’s efforts are encouraged to register their charity here.