Now who hasn't fawned over a Weller? It's just pure bait at this point and you'll find them all over social media - each and everytime it makes an appearance you can bet that it'll send Bourbon lovers into a frenzy right on cue. The love for Weller never does seem to abate, and remains ever passionate no matter how long it's been around.

But I'll do you one better - this ain't any Weller Antique 107. This is the first ever Barrel Select that's bottled for Singapore. Now that might surprise folks in America, but bear in mind, the little sunny island is pretty much on the other side of the globe, running you just about a full day of flight time to get from one country to the other.

It should be no surprise then that this Weller Antique 107 Barrel Select must have been made for a special occasion that warrants the watershed moment for our little red dot - and indeed, I was told that it was bottled for the wedding of one Ker Wei and Barbara, with the support from local spirits group Shiok Spirits! Congratulations to the couple and we wish you a blissful marriage!

And so today, let's give Singapore's first ever Weller Antique 107 Barrel Select a taste!

Let's go!

PS. Shoutout to Nic of Bar Madame, and who is also one of the folks behind Shiok Spirits, who introduced this Weller to us! And of course the one and only Swan Song (which has just opened in its new location better than ever!) for sharing this with us!

Bourbon Review: Weller Antique 107 Wheated Bourbon, Barrel Select For Ker Wei And Barbara, Shiok Spirits, 53.5% ABV (107 Proof)

Tasting Notes

Colour: Deep Amber

Aroma: Opens up with intense confectionary perfumes of cinnamon sugar, maraschino cherries, vanilla frosting topped over cherry crumble. This is balanced out by some dark chocolate nibs and combines with the bountiful cherries to give something of chocolate cherry brittle. A delicate savouriness of burnt toast outlines the aromas too. Really vibrant and energetic with all this aromatic intensity!

Taste: More concentration here, it’s less outwardly radiant as it is inward focused, developing alot of richness here. It’s almost like a spice maltose candy on the palate. It’s rich and rounded, really velvety and almost syrupy, filled in with more herbal and spiced elements of eucalyptus, Pei Pa Koa cough syrup, warm tones of spices of cloves and anise. Yet it maintains a freshness and lifted brightness about it. It persistently stays honeyed with the oak firmly and comfortingly offering structure without encroaching.

Finish: Those warm honeyed tones carry through, this time with more cherry brittle. It’s a clean and firm, yet long finish with a soft glowing warmth. Some black tea tannins and ashiness of charred barrel oak staves linger, balancing out the earlier richness with some firmer dryness. 

My Thoughts

From the moment this came out from the glass it was already obvious that this was something special altogether - its aromas are remarkably vibrant and fresh, with such expressiveness, intensity and energy! It was just pouring forth with these incredibly confectionary tones that feels like a baked goods stand in a Christmas market. And at the same time, lest it be narrow in dimensions, some of this dark chocolate quietly resides at the back and as you fall through the depths of those warm confectionary tones, you’re met with some bittersweetness and savouriness that provides great balance to the richness.

Into the palate, there was more evolution to be had, from being radiantly expressive, the palate offered something more rich and concentrated, with a fullness to it. It’s reminiscent of exotic spiced maltose candy, the sort you’d find in a Turkish bazaar. It takes on tones of herbal qualities too that adds to its complexity, with a really nice and firm oak structure that holds its sturdy form.

The finish was warm and subtly confectionary, yet what I liked most was the firmer black tea tannins that came through after, which again holds as a counterpoint to the overall richness. Overall, what I find so impressive is the persistent ability for this Weller to maintain balance, keep its precision and concentration, whilst still being radiantly fresh and rich throughout, which all works to give it a great presence.

Congratulations to the happy couple once again!