Weller Special Reserve is the entry point to Buffalo Trace’s wheated bourbon line, the same wheated mash bill that underpins Pappy Van Winkle, bottled young and easygoing at 90 proof. Wheat replaces rye as the secondary grain, which softens the spice and pushes caramel, vanilla and a light honeyed sweetness to the front. The palate is round and gentle, the finish clean and medium-length with a touch of oak. At 45% ABV in the 1.75-liter format, this is the bottle to keep on hand rather than lock away. It drinks well neat, opens up over a single large cube, and holds its own in an Old Fashioned when you want a softer, sweeter base.