Compare
Bulleit Bourbon vs W.L. Weller 12 Year
Bulleit Bourbon and W.L. Weller 12 Year sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: a blender-built, rye-forward bottling versus an old-guard, wheat-forward classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Bulleit Bourbon | W.L. Weller 12 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 68% corn, 28% rye, 4% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | No age statement | 12 years |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) | 90 proof (45% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$25 – $32 ~$97 less | ~$70 – $180 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Allocated |
- W.L. Weller 12 Year does 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
Bulleit Bourbon
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
W.L. Weller 12 Year
No notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Bulleit Bourbon W.L. Weller 12 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 7/2 spice: Bulleit Bourbon 7 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 2 out of 10
sweetness 5/8 sweetness: Bulleit Bourbon 5 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 8 out of 10
oak 5/7 oak: Bulleit Bourbon 5 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 7 out of 10
fruit 5/6 fruit: Bulleit Bourbon 5 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 6 out of 10
heat 4/3 heat: Bulleit Bourbon 4 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 3 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Bulleit Bourbon 3 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Rye spice is the dividing line here.
- Bulleit Bourbon: The bottle that put high-rye bourbon in every cocktail bar in the country. Peppery and dry with the familiar MGP dill note, and it earns its place behind the bar more than in a glass on its own.
- W.L. Weller 12 Year: Twelve years on a wheated mash at a modest 90 proof, which is the combination that made this bottle famous. Deep caramel and baked fruit with polished rather than aggressive oak — the closest widely-discussed analogue to the Pappy profile.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Bulleit Bourbon if you want a dry, peppery, high-rye bourbon built for cocktails and available absolutely everywhere at a significantly lower price point.
- Go with W.L. Weller 12 Year if you want age and elegance on a wheated mash, and you are willing to chase it.
Best enjoyed old-fashioned, cocktails, highball (Bulleit Bourbon); neat (W.L. Weller 12 Year).