W. L. Weller CYPB 2021 Bourbon
Wanna know something really weird?
I like this. A lot.
Weller CYPB, or “Craft Your Perfect Bourbon”, was introduced in 2018 by Buffalo Trace because they needed another Weller-branded bottle that very few people would ever see. This time, though, you could do an online quizlet to craft the bourbon you’d like using flavor profiles and other preferences.
The recipe reflects what Buffalo Trace calls an “overwhelming consensus” pick of a wheated bourbon, aged at the highest floors of the rickhouse for around 8 years and between 90-99 proof. Over 100,000 people participated in the experiment between its launch in 2015 and the first release in 2018. It’s a fun exercise, but I’m not sure anyone outside the distillery walls knows the relation between the answers received and the bourbon produced. You can take it here if you’d like.
The now-annual release of Weller CYPB comes out each May at an accessible proof point of 95 and an even more accessible MSRP of $49.99. Does anyone get that price outside of a few lucky bots in Pennsylvania? Probably not - these go for a few hundred at least on secondary markets.
So why do I say it’s weird that I like this? Well, (relatively) low proof wheated bourbons aren’t usually my thing, and the Weller line can be remarkably hit or miss for me outside of the William Larue Weller. Some Old Weller Antique 107s are great, some are meh, the Special Reserve is no longer my jam, and the Full Proof and 12-Year-Old are generally best when they’re a store pick.
Yet, at just 95 proof, this was well-balanced, flavorful, and syrupy. Who knows…maybe my original CYPB exercise (I came up with something close to a WLW) was wrong?
W. L. Weller CYPB 2021 Bourbon Whiskey: Specs
Classification: Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Origin: Buffalo Trace Distillery
Mashbill: Buffalo Trace Wheated Mashbill
Proof: 95 (47.5% ABV)
Age: 8 Years Old
Location: Kentucky
W. L. Weller CYPB 2021 Bourbon Whiskey Price: $49.99
W. L. Weller CYPB 2021 Bourbon Whiskey Review: Tasting Notes
Eye: Manuka honey. Syrupy rims and quick, syrupy droplets.
Nose: Super fruity - red fruits and orchard and stone, oh my! Mild fresh corn, barest hint of baking spice as some more bourbon-y notes start to emerge. No proof heat, some toasting nuts in the background.
Palate: Warm, buttery brioche, with those red fruits starting to caramelize in a pie crust. Cascara fruit and a dusting of cinnamon. Mouthfeel is medium-bodied, opens some pepper and oak along the way with proof. Toasted almonds in cocoa. Coating and oily, turns syrupy with a Kentucky chew.
Finish: Burst of fruitiness at first, then chocolate, with the chocolate fading gently. Big, bold red wine opens, too.
Overall: This is subtle and nuanced, while the berry and red fruit flavors lead the way. Deceptively creamy with a great mouthfeel and enough variety to stay intriguing throughout the pour. An excellent edition.
Final Rating: 7.9
10 | Insurpassable | Nothing Else Comes Close (Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Old Label Batch 4 or 2, Blanton’s Straight from the Barrel)
9 | Incredible | Extraordinary (GTS, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B518 and B520)
8 | Excellent | Exceptional (Stagg Jr. Batch 10, Highland Park Single Barrels)
7 | Great | Well above average (Blanton’s Original, Old Weller Antique, Booker’s)
6 | Very Good | Better than average (Four Roses Small Batch Select, Knob Creek 14+ YO Picks)
5 | Good | Good, solid, ordinary (Elijah Craig Small Batch, Buffalo Trace, Old Grand-Dad Bottled-in-Bond)
4 | Sub-par | Many things I’d rather have (A.D. Laws Four Grain, Compass Box “Oak Cross”)
3 | Bad | Flawed (Iron Smoke Bourbon, Balcones)
2 | Poor | Forced myself to drink it (Buckshee Bourbon and Rye)
1 | Disgusting | Drain pour (Virginia Distilling Co. Cider Cask)
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