Bourbon Culture is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. The Pappy Van Winkle frenzy has it roots starting all the way back to 1996 when it scored a 99 out of 100 from the Beverage Tasting Institute. Since then, it has racked up more and more awards and has become one of the most coveted labels in all of bourbon. But as the internet continued to grow and more enthusiasts shared information, it was not long before everyone started to realize that modern day Pappy Van Winkle products all started their life from Buffalo Trace's wheated mashbill bourbon. This meant that the only difference between bottles of Pappy and Weller bourbon lay in who was selecting them. This led to a rush where all Weller 12 bottles were cleared from the shelves. Old Weller Antique followed shortly thereafter and finally, Weller Special Reserve vanished.Weller Special Reserve Weller Special Reserve doesn't necessarily have any special characteristics on paper. It's a wheated bourbon mashbill, which is still somewhat rare, and is aged anywhere from 4 to 7 years. It is then chill-filtered and cut down to 90 proof before being bottled. But just like the children of famous athletes, everyone immediately assumes that the contents of a bottle of Weller Special Reserve automatically have the taste and profile similar enough to Pappy. This means that it is unobtainable in almost every state that carries Buffalo Trace products. But is this green labeled bottle really as good as everyone thinks it is? Let's see if the hype is worth is. I sat down with a bottle and my Glencairn to take a closer look. Tasting Notes Nose: The nose is basic, but does a nice job at the things it showcases. Caramel and cherries bring on the sweetness while some vanilla and some faint apples keep it nice and mellow. There's not really too much in terms of tannins, but it's not as if the nose seems overly young either. Palate: Sweet cherries and a tiny bit of oranges hint to the fruitier side of this bourbon while some faint cinnamon and chocolate notes can also be tasted. The caramel and vanilla sweetness round it all off nicely. The depth is lacking, but it's still a very pleasing sip. Finish: A short, but sweet finish. More caramel dipped apples and a faint hint of oak. The cinnamon spice is the most dominant portion of the finish, but it's neither overwhelming or distracting. I like it.