Weller 12 Year Bourbon Review Canada: Tasting Notes, Value & Alternatives (2026)
- waylonsbourbonshel
- Aug 23
- 6 min read
Weller 12 Year is one of the most recognizable bottles in the Buffalo Trace lineup and one of the most sought-after age-stated wheated bourbons. Aged for 12 years and bottled at 90 proof, it offers the softer character associated with wheated bourbon while bringing noticeably more oak and maturity to the glass.
After trying it ourselves, we were impressed by how well the bourbon balances its age. It's layered, complex, and full of flavour, with a noticeable woody and oaky character that never becomes overly harsh. For a 12-year-old bourbon, we found it surprisingly smooth and refined.
Highlights
Layered & Complex — Plenty of depth develops throughout the sip.
Rich Oak Character — The 12 years of aging bring noticeable woody and oaky flavours.
Smooth & Refined — Despite its age, it remains remarkably approachable without becoming harsh.
Quick Review Summary
Rating: 88/100
Best For: Wheated bourbon fans, experienced bourbon drinkers, collectors
Price in Canada: $120 CAD (if you're lucky enough to find it)
Proof: 90 (45% ABV)
Would We Buy Again? Yes
If you like this, try:
Weller Antique 107
Eagle Rare 10 Year
Russell's Reserve 10 Year
What Weller 12 Year Bourbon Actually Is
Weller 12 Year is a Kentucky Straight Wheated Bourbon produced by Buffalo Trace Distillery. It's part of the W.L. Weller family, which uses wheat instead of rye as the secondary grain, giving the bourbon a softer and smoother profile than many traditional bourbon recipes.
The "12 Year" designation is significant because the bourbon is aged for a full 12 years before bottling. Buffalo Trace describes it as smooth, balanced, and refined, with a long, oaky finish.
Specs at a Glance
Details | Info |
Distillery | Buffalo Trace Distillery |
Location | Frankfort, Kentucky |
Mash Bill | Wheated Mash — exact percentages undisclosed |
Aged | 12 Years |
ABV | 45% |
Proof | 90 |
Style | Kentucky Straight Bourbon |
Price (Canada) | $120 |
Tasting Notes (Our Experience)
Weller 12 Year immediately gives you the sense that you're drinking a mature bourbon.
The profile is layered and complex, with good flavour developing throughout the sip. The most noticeable characteristic for us is the oak and woody character. Twelve years in the barrel definitely makes itself known, but in a way that works well with the rest of the bourbon.
There's plenty of depth without the oak completely taking over.
What really impressed us was how smooth and refined the bourbon remains despite its age. Older bourbon can sometimes become overly woody, tannic, or harsh, but we didn't find that to be the case here.
Instead, Weller 12 maintains a really nice balance between its mature oak character and the sweeter, softer profile you'd expect from a wheated bourbon.
The result is a bourbon that's complex enough to sit and analyze but smooth enough to simply enjoy.
Who We Think This Bourbon Is For
Weller 12 Year Bourbon works best if you:
Enjoy wheated bourbon
Like mature, oak-forward whiskey
Appreciate layered and complex flavours
Prefer smooth and refined bourbon
Enjoy sipping bourbon neat
Want to experience an older Buffalo Trace bourbon
Skip it (or look elsewhere) if you:
Prefer high-proof bourbon
Don't enjoy noticeable oak
Want a bold, spicy rye-forward profile
Prefer younger, sweeter bourbon
Is Weller 12 Year Bourbon Worth It in Canada?
At a reasonable retail price, absolutely.
Weller 12 delivers the maturity, complexity, and smoothness you'd expect from a 12-year bourbon. The biggest issue isn't necessarily the bourbon itself—it's the price you may have to pay to get one.
The suggested retail price is considerably lower than what bottles can command on the secondary market, where Weller 12 has developed a reputation for being difficult to find. Recent bourbon community reviews also point to the large gap between retail pricing and inflated secondary-market prices.
For us, the bottle is impressive enough to justify seeking out at a reasonable price. We just wouldn't recommend drastically overpaying because of the Weller name.
Can You Actually Find It in Canada?
Weller 12 can be particularly difficult for Canadian bourbon fans to find.
Availability varies by province and release, and Weller products are generally much harder to come across than standard bourbon releases. The combination of the 12-year age statement, Buffalo Trace reputation, and demand for wheated bourbon makes it a bottle that can disappear quickly when it does show up.
If you find a bottle at a reasonable price, we'd recommend taking the opportunity rather than assuming you'll easily find another one.
Weller 12 Year Bourbon vs Eagle Rare 10 Year (Quick Take)
Weller 12 Year: More oak-forward, woody, layered, and refined, with the softer character of a wheated bourbon.
Eagle Rare 10 Year: Lighter, smoother, easier drinking, and more affordable when found near retail.
The price difference is a big factor for us. While Weller 12 offers more age and mature oak character, Eagle Rare 10 Year gives you a lot of the same smooth, refined experience at a lower price.
For us, Eagle Rare is the better value, while Weller 12 offers more mature complexity. If the prices are close, we'd take Weller 12—but if there's a big premium, we'd choose Eagle Rare.
Canadian Alternative We Think Is Worth It
If you enjoy Weller 12 Year and want to try a Canadian whisky with a similarly smooth and refined approach, we'd recommend:
John Sleeman & Sons Traditional Straight Whisky
It offers:
A sweet and flavourful profile
Smooth, easy-drinking character
Layers of caramel, vanilla, and oak
A distinctly Canadian take on bourbon
It's also one of our favourite Canadian bourbon-inspired whiskies we've tried.
Best Ways We Drink It
Neat — Our preferred way to experience the layers and oak.
With a few drops of water — Can open up additional flavours.
Over a large ice cube — If you prefer a softer, slower sip.
For a bourbon like Weller 12, we'd recommend trying it neat first. At 90 proof, it doesn't need much help to be approachable.
Final Thoughts
Weller 12 Year is a bourbon that lives up to its age statement.
It's layered, complex, flavourful, and noticeably oaky, but what impressed us most was how smooth and refined it remains. For a bourbon that's spent 12 years in the barrel, we didn't find it harsh at all.
The woody and oaky character is definitely present, but it's balanced well enough that it doesn't overwhelm the rest of the profile. There's a nice maturity to the pour without it becoming overly tannic or difficult to drink.
For us, that's what makes Weller 12 special. It manages to deliver the depth you'd hope for from a 12-year bourbon while maintaining the smoothness that makes wheated bourbon so appealing.
The biggest challenge is finding it at a reasonable price. We think it's a bottle worth trying when you get the opportunity, but we wouldn't recommend paying an extreme premium simply because it carries the Weller name.
Overall, Weller 12 Year is an excellent, mature, and refined wheated bourbon that delivers on flavour and balance. If you're a fan of older bourbon and enjoy a noticeable oak presence without harshness, this is absolutely a bottle worth experiencing.
Final Score: 88/100
🥃 Recommended Bottles to Try
Based on this guide, here are some great REAL Bourbon options currently available in Canada:
Weller Antique 107 Bourbon - Rich wheated flavour profile that is bold yet approachable
Blantons Original Bourbon - Premium single-barrel experience, highly collectible and memorable pour
Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon - Highly complex bourbon profile that is extremely smooth and easy-drinking
❓ Bourbon & Whiskey FAQs
What is Weller 12 Year Bourbon?
Weller 12 Year is a Kentucky Straight Wheated Bourbon produced by Buffalo Trace Distillery and aged for 12 years. It is bottled at 90 proof (45% ABV).
What does Weller 12 Year taste like?
Weller 12 Year is layered, complex, oaky, woody, smooth, and refined, with a well-balanced profile and a long, oaky finish.
Is Weller 12 Year a wheated bourbon?
Yes. Weller uses wheat instead of rye as the secondary grain, creating the softer, smoother style the brand is known for.
Is Weller 12 Year worth buying?
We think it is a very good bourbon, particularly if you enjoy mature, oak-forward and wheated bourbon.
Is Weller 12 better than Weller 107?
For us, Weller 107 gets the edge. The higher proof gives 107 more intensity and flavour, while Weller 12 offers more mature oak and a smoother, more refined profile.
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