Sips & Sites & Bites

Buffalo Trace Distillery isn’t exactly known for standing still, especially when it comes to their Weller line. Just when fans thought they’d tasted everything the iconic wheated bourbon portfolio had to offer, Buffalo Trace decided to push things even further.

Two new releases are coming in hot (and old): Weller Millennium Edition No. 2 and a brand-new Weller 18 Year Old. And while both releases are steeped in history, they’re anything but stuck in the past.

Let’s start with Weller Millennium No. 2, which picks up where last year’s inaugural edition left off. This isn’t just another high-end release with a fancy bottle (although the handcrafted crystal decanter with the etched “W” is definitely eye-catching). This is a deep dive into early-2000s whiskey, specifically vintages distilled in 2001, 2003, and 2006, that Buffalo Trace set aside decades ago with a singular purpose: to explore what wheat can become when given serious time to mature.

This year’s Millennium release doesn’t just replicate last year’s formula. Instead, it goes for a fresh blend, dialing in a mix that balances dark cherry, butterscotch, warm vanilla, and plenty of oak. Think of it like opening a time capsule that smells incredible. According to the distillery, the finish is a bold, oak-forward experience—and with a 99-proof bottling, it’s got backbone to match its elegance. Priced at $7,500, this one’s clearly aimed at collectors, and each bottle is presented with an illuminated display case featuring 99 LED bursts and blend details.

On the other side of the release spectrum (but no less exciting for serious whiskey lovers) is the debut of Weller 18 Year Old … the oldest age-stated whiskey in the Weller portfolio so far. While 18 years might raise eyebrows in the bourbon world, where extended aging can sometimes mute complexity, this wheat whiskey seems to have found its sweet spot.

According to Master Distiller Harlen Wheatley, the softness of the wheat has evolved over nearly two decades into something expressive and graceful. Tasting notes include aged fruit, tobacco, warm baking spices, and green pear. The 90-proof bottling aims for balance rather than punch, and the whole thing comes in a sleek crystal decanter similar to the Millennium’s, but without the flashy display case.

Weller 18 won’t be easy to find … its first wave will be available only through global travel retail at airports like LAX, JFK, and London Heathrow, priced at $499. So unless you’re catching an international flight soon, you might be waiting a bit.

Both releases highlight what Buffalo Trace has been hinting at for a while now: wheat isn’t just a softer, sweeter alternative in bourbon … it’s a canvas. And with these latest Weller expressions, they’re painting in deep, rich strokes.

Whether you’re a seasoned collector or just a curious whiskey fan, these releases are worth watching, not just for what they are, but for what they say about where American whiskey is headed next.