Weller Full Proof Bourbon

This bottle can be so tough to find by me unless you have a connection. I've never been willing to put the time & effort into hunting for it, so when I was able to get a glass for $20 at dinner I figured why not give it a try. It was a very nice bourbon to sip on! It reminded me a lot of the EH Taylor Small Batch, just less harsh and with more flavor. Strong and very sweet, with a big kick of caramel and vanilla. While it was fun to finally give it a try, this was just further proof to me that the "hype" bourbons are really not better than ones I can find any day at a liquor store. I couldn't help but feel underwhelmed given the acclaim of the bottle, and I can't help but factor that into the score a little bit. It's good, but I guess I just don't get the hype? Like this was a tasty glass of bourbon - but why is this held in such high regard compared to something like Rare Breed or Maker's Barrel Proof?

Weller Full Proof Single Barrel” 94 Excellent balance of flavor Nose Caramel maple Baking spice Creamy oak Weller apple cinnamon Fruity crumb cake Vanilla Fair hint of chocolate Marshmallow chocolate Palette Sweet Balanced Nice mouthfeel Chocolate Hot Spice that lingers

cream, high heat, slight vanilla