Back in September 2018 I wrote a blog about Daniel Weller, W.L. Weller’s grandfather, and at the end of the blog I suggested that Buffalo Trace should name a brand after him. Shortly thereafter, Mark Brown the CEO of Buffalo Trace at the time emailed me thanking me for writing the blog and stating that it was a good suggestion to name a whiskey after Daniel Weller. Five years later and now Buffalo Trace is releasing Daniel Weller Bourbon made with an heirloom variety of wheat. They recently sent me a sample bottle and Matt and I sat down to taste it. Here are our tasting notes.
Daniel Weller 1794 Emmer Wheat Recipe Bourbon
Proof: 94
Age: No Age Statement (Buffalo Trace states it is almost 12 years old)
Nose:
- Mike: Caramel corn, apples, oak and leather.
- Matt: Caramel, brown sugar, coriander and oak wood.
Taste:
- Mike: Caramel corn, apples, nutmeg, allspice, oak and leather. Tasted with a dried cranberry brings out cinnamon spice and enhances the caramel. Tasted with a pecan and milk chocolate and pepper spice come forward.
- Matt: Caramel, brown sugar, blackberry and oak wood. The dried cranberry gave it the flavors of a creamy caramel, brown sugar and berries. The pecan gave it flavors of chocolate, butter pecan and oak.
Finish:
- Mike: Medium long with oak and nutmeg. The dried cranberry made the finish longer and brought out cinnamon spice. The pecan made the finish very long and dry with oak and black pepper.
- Matt: Medium long with oak, blackberry, and citrus. The dried cranberry made the finish king with oak and tobacco. The pecan made the finish long with oak, tobacco and chocolate.
I would pair this Bourbon with a cigar that has some vanilla and chocolate in the smoke. I would reach for one of my favorite cigars, a My Father The Judge cigar.
Photos Courtesy of Rebecca Hammer