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The list dropped and the takes are hot. We kick things off with the new Whiskey Advocate Top 20—Elijah Craig A925 at the top, Oban 15 sliding in at number two, and a well-earned spotlight on Maker’s Mark Cellar Aged—then we turn the conversation toward a bottle that always hit the spot: Weller Full Proof. If you’ve ever wondered how proof and filtration change a bourbon’s soul, this is your pour.

We walk through the Weller family by color and proof and then slow down on the blue label. Non-chill filtered at 114, Full Proof carries a dessert-like nose—brown sugar, caramelized wood, a hint of cinnamon—before shifting into an oak-driven, slightly drying finish with a layered spice profile. One of us wants the nose’s sugar to stretch longer; the other leans into the structure, texture, and tannin that make it a weeder with backbone. Along the way, we unpack why chill filtering matters, what happens when you leave the oils in, and how a splash of water can coax sweetness forward without muting character.

Price and access are part of the story. At $70 for a good store pick, Full Proof feels like a win; at inflated tags or secondary levels, the value case gets tougher. We get practical about finding bottles—build relationships, learn the color code, and time your visits—and we tip the cap to history, tracing Weller’s roots through Stitzel-Weller to the Pappy mash philosophy. The bigger theme is clear: quality is everywhere, and the right bottle depends on your proof tolerance and palate goals.

If bold, textured wheaters are your lane, blue might be your new weeknight flex. If you want softer sweetness, the 12 Year or Special Reserve may hit just right. Pour something you love, then press play and taste along with us. Enjoyed the breakdown? Follow, share with a whiskey friend, and leave a quick review to help more listeners find the show.