Once a year, Buffalo Trace releases William Larue Weller, a barrel-proof wheated bourbon that anchors the distillery’s Antique Collection. It is hand-bottled uncut, straight from the barrel, so the proof moves with every annual release. Wheat stands in for rye in the mash bill, and that swap is why all that strength lands plush instead of sharp: caramel corn, new leather, and plums on the nose; marshmallow, salted almonds, nougat, and figs across the palate; a composed, sweet finish that goes on for minutes. This is an allocation heavyweight bottles clear shelves the day they arrive. Pour it slowly, add water a few drops at a time, and give it a full evening; barrel proof rewards patience.