Weller Special Reserve Bourbon Review Canada: Tasting Notes, Value & Alternatives (2026)
- waylonsbourbonshel
- 5 days ago
- 6 min read
Weller Special Reserve is one of those bourbons that doesn't need to overcomplicate things. It's smooth, approachable, easy to drink, and offers the kind of everyday sipping experience that makes it easy to come back to.
As the entry-level expression in the Weller lineup, Special Reserve is a 90-proof wheated bourbon from Buffalo Trace Distillery. It replaces rye with wheat in the mash bill, helping create the soft and mellow character Weller is known for.
After trying it ourselves, what stood out most was how smooth and uncomplicated it is. It doesn't try to overwhelm you with proof or complexity. Instead, it delivers a reliable, easygoing pour that we think works particularly well for everyday sipping.
Highlights
Smooth & Easy-Drinking — Approachable from the first sip to the last.
Great Value — When you find it at a fair retail price, the quality punches above its price point.
Beginner-Friendly — A simple, mellow bourbon that's easy to enjoy without needing an experienced palate.
Quick Review Summary
Rating: 83/100
Best For: Beginners, everyday sipping, wheated bourbon fans
Price in Canada: $64.99 CAD
Proof: 90 (45% ABV)
Would We Buy Again? Yes
If you like this, try:
Weller Antique 107
Weller 12 Year
Russell's Reserve 10 Year
Weller Special Reserve Bourbon Actually Is
Weller Special Reserve is a Kentucky Straight Wheated Bourbon produced by Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky.
Unlike traditional bourbon recipes that use rye as the secondary grain, Weller uses wheat, creating a softer and smoother style of bourbon. Buffalo Trace describes Special Reserve as its "Original Wheated Bourbon."
It's bottled at 90 proof (45% ABV) and is designed to be approachable enough for newer bourbon drinkers while still offering the character bourbon fans expect.
Specs at a Glance
Details | Info |
Distillery | Buffalo Trace Distillery |
Location | Frankfort, Kentucky |
Mash Bill | Wheated Mash |
Aged | No Age Statement |
ABV | 45% |
Proof | 90 |
Style | Kentucky Straight Bourbon |
Price (Canada) | $64.99 |
Tasting Notes (Our Experience)
Weller Special Reserve is all about smooth, easy drinking.
From the first sip, the bourbon has a soft and rounded mouthfeel with gentle warmth.
There's enough flavour to keep things interesting, but it never feels heavy, overpowering, or overly complicated.
The profile leans sweet and mellow, with caramel, honey, butterscotch, and light oak coming through. There's a pleasant balance between sweetness and gentle woodiness without one element taking over.
What we like most is how effortless it is to drink.
There's no harshness that gets in the way, and you don't need to spend a lot of time analyzing the glass to enjoy it. It's simply a smooth, approachable bourbon that does what it needs to do.
That makes it particularly appealing for newer bourbon drinkers. If you're just getting into bourbon and don't want something overly spicy, high proof, or aggressive, Weller Special Reserve is an easy place to start.
For more experienced drinkers, it can also make a great everyday pour when you're looking for something simple and reliable.
Who We Think This Bourbon Is For
Weller Special Reserve Bourbon works best if you:
Are new to bourbon
Prefer smooth, mellow whiskey
Enjoy sweeter bourbon
Want an easy everyday sipper
Like wheated bourbon
Prefer 90-proof bourbon
Want something that works neat or on the rocks
Skip it (or look elsewhere) if you:
Want high-proof bourbon
Prefer bold spice
Want a highly complex bourbon
Prefer strong oak or intense flavour
Is Weller Special Reserve Bourbon Worth It in Canada?
When you find it at a fair price, absolutely.
For us, the biggest selling point is the combination of smoothness, reliability, and value.
Weller Special Reserve isn't trying to be the most complex bourbon on the shelf. Instead, it gives you a smooth, mellow, easy-drinking pour that you can enjoy without overthinking it.
And that's exactly why we think it offers good value.
At BSW, Weller Special Reserve is currently listed at $64.99 CAD, although availability can change. The LCBO has also listed 750 mL bottles around the mid-$40 CAD range when bourbon was still being sold in Ontario.
If you can find it closer to the lower retail price, we think it's particularly strong value.
Can You Actually Find It in Canada?
This is where things can get a little frustrating.
While Weller Special Reserve does appear at Canadian retailers, it's not always consistently available. For example, BSW currently lists the bottle but shows it as out of stock, while the LCBO has also carried it but currently lists it as unavailable (due to the trade war).
We've found that availability can come down to timing and individual releases.
It's not impossible to find, but it's also not something we'd count on being sitting on the shelf every time we walk into a store.
Weller Special Reserve Bourbon vs Weller 107 (Quick Take)
These two bottles share the same wheated bourbon foundation but offer noticeably different drinking experiences.
Weller Special Reserve: Smooth, mellow, approachable, and easy drinking.
Weller Antique 107: Higher proof, more flavour intensity, more heat, and a bolder overall profile.
For us, 107 is the more exciting bourbon, but Special Reserve is easier to drink casually.
If you're new to bourbon, we'd probably start with Special Reserve. If you want more flavour and intensity, we'd step up to 107.
Canadian Alternative We Think Is Worth It
If you enjoy Weller Special Reserve and want to try a Canadian whisky with a similar focus on smoothness and easy sipping, we 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 favourite way to enjoy its smooth and mellow character.
On the rocks: Great if you prefer an even softer, slower sip.
In cocktails: Its approachable profile also makes it versatile enough for classic bourbon cocktails. Buffalo Trace specifically recommends it neat, on the rocks, or in cocktails.
For us, neat or over a single large ice cube is the way to go.
Final Thoughts
Weller Special Reserve is a smooth, no-fuss bourbon that simply works.
It's easy drinking from the first sip to the last, with a soft, rounded character and enough flavour to keep things interesting without ever becoming heavy or overpowering.
What we appreciate most is how approachable it is. This is a bourbon we could easily recommend to someone just getting into bourbon, while still enjoying it ourselves when we're looking for something simple and reliable.
The value is another big part of the appeal. When you find Weller Special Reserve at a fair retail price, we think the quality easily justifies the cost.
It's not the most complex or exciting Weller we've tried—we'd take Weller 107 over it when we're looking for a bigger, more flavourful pour—but that's not really the point of Special Reserve.
It's a smooth, reliable, everyday bourbon, and sometimes that's exactly what you want.
Final Score: 83/100
🥃 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
Weller 12 Year Bourbon - Rich Oak Character that is smooth & refined
Russell's Reserve 10 Year Bourbon - Smooth and incredibly easy-drinking, it is a permanent shelf staple
❓ Bourbon & Whiskey FAQs
What is Weller Special Reserve?
Weller Special Reserve is a Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey and the original wheated bourbon from the W.L. Weller line. It uses wheat instead of rye, giving it a softer and smoother flavour profile.
Is Weller Special Reserve a wheated bourbon?
Yes. Weller Special Reserve is a wheated bourbon, meaning wheat is used instead of rye as the secondary grain. This helps give Weller its signature soft and smooth character.
Is Weller Special Reserve good for beginners?
Yes. We think Weller Special Reserve is an excellent choice for someone getting into bourbon. Its smooth, mellow, and uncomplicated profile makes it easy to enjoy without being overly spicy, intense, or harsh.
Is Weller Special Reserve available in Canada?
Availability can be inconsistent in Canada. We've found that Weller Special Reserve can sell out quickly, so finding it at a reasonable retail price often comes down to timing and availability.
What does Weller Special Reserve taste like?
Weller Special Reserve is smooth, mellow, and easy-drinking. We found it to have a soft, rounded character with gentle sweetness and a light warmth. Official tasting notes include caramel, honey, butterscotch, soft woodiness, and a sweet honeysuckle finish.
Comments