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Ancient Age vs W.L. Weller Full Proof
Ancient Age and W.L. Weller Full Proof sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, rye-forward classic versus an old-guard, wheat-forward classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Ancient Age | W.L. Weller Full Proof |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 15% rye, 10% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 80 proof (40% ABV) | 114 proof (57% ABV) +34 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$14 – $18 ~$69 less | ~$50 – $120 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Allocated |
- Ancient Age and W.L. Weller Full Proof do not publish an official mash bill.
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Ancient Age
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
W.L. Weller Full Proof
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Ancient Age W.L. Weller Full Proof
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 2/7 heat: Ancient Age 2 out of 10, W.L. Weller Full Proof 7 out of 10
sweetness 5/8 sweetness: Ancient Age 5 out of 10, W.L. Weller Full Proof 8 out of 10
oak 3/6 oak: Ancient Age 3 out of 10, W.L. Weller Full Proof 6 out of 10
spice 4/3 spice: Ancient Age 4 out of 10, W.L. Weller Full Proof 3 out of 10
nuttiness 4/3 nuttiness: Ancient Age 4 out of 10, W.L. Weller Full Proof 3 out of 10
fruit 4/4 fruit: Ancient Age 4 out of 10, W.L. Weller Full Proof 4 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
These two land very differently on the palate for heat.
- Ancient Age: The bottom rung of the Buffalo Trace ladder and priced accordingly. Thin and simple at 80 proof, but it is recognisably the Mash Bill #2 recipe and it does its job in a highball without complaint.
- W.L. Weller Full Proof: Weller's wheated bourbon bottled at its barrel-entry proof of 114, without chill filtering. Coffee cake, caramel and cinnamon with a bold, warming body.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Ancient Age if you want the cheapest honest mixer in the lineup and you are not drinking it neat without hunting for it.
- Go with W.L. Weller Full Proof if you want a bold, sweet wheater bottled at barrel-entry proof with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
Best enjoyed cocktails, highball (Ancient Age); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (W.L. Weller Full Proof).