As an expert sommelier and brewer, I can provide you with a detailed answer to the question of whether Weller 12 year is the same as Pappy Van Winkle.
To start off, it's important to note that Stitzel-Weller, the original distillery that produced both Weller and Pappy Van Winkle, closed its doors in 1992. Today, both Weller 12 year and Pappy Van Winkle are produced at Buffalo Trace's distillery. While they share a common origin, there are some differences between the two.
Weller 12 Year Old is often referred to as the “poor man's Pappy” because it is made of Pappy Van Winkle that didn't quite make the cut for Pappy Van Winkle Lot B 12 year. This means that the barrels of whiskey that didn't meet the strict quality standards set for Pappy Van Winkle are used to create Weller 12 year instead.
The main difference between the two lies in the selection process. Pappy Van Winkle is known for its extremely high quality and limited availability, making it highly sought after by whiskey enthusiasts. The barrels chosen for Pappy Van Winkle go through a rigorous selection process to ensure only the best whiskey is used for bottling.
On the other hand, Weller 12 year is made up of barrels that didn't meet the specific criteria for Pappy Van Winkle Lot B. This doesn't necessarily mean that the whiskey in Weller 12 year is of lower quality, but rather that it didn't quite make the cut for Pappy Van Winkle. It's important to note that Weller 12 year still goes through its own selection process to ensure a certain level of quality.
In terms of flavor profile, both Weller 12 year and Pappy Van Winkle Lot B 12 year share similarities due to their shared lineage. They are both wheated bourbons, meaning that they use a high proportion of wheat in the mash bill, which gives them a smooth and mellow character. However, the specific flavors and nuances may vary between the two expressions.
In my personal experience, I have tasted both Weller 12 year and Pappy Van Winkle Lot B 12 year side by side. While there are similarities, I found that the Pappy Van Winkle had a more refined and complex flavor profile, with notes of caramel, vanilla, and oak that were exceptionally well-balanced. Weller 12 year, on the other hand, had a similar flavor profile but lacked some of the depth and complexity found in the Pappy expression.
To summarize, Weller 12 year is made of Pappy Van Winkle barrels that didn't meet the criteria for Pappy Van Winkle Lot B 12 year. While they share a common lineage and some flavor similarities, there are differences in the selection process and overall quality. Both are highly regarded wheated bourbons, but Pappy Van Winkle is known for its exceptional quality and limited availability.