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Bulleit Bourbon vs W.L. Weller Special Reserve
Bulleit Bourbon and W.L. Weller Special Reserve sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: a sourced, rye-forward blend versus an old-guard, wheat-forward classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Bulleit Bourbon | W.L. Weller Special Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 68% corn, 28% rye, 4% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) | 90 proof (45% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$25 – $32 ~$17 less | ~$30 – $60 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Allocated |
- W.L. Weller Special Reserve 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 Special Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Bulleit Bourbon W.L. Weller Special Reserve
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 7/2 spice: Bulleit Bourbon 7 out of 10, W.L. Weller Special Reserve 2 out of 10
sweetness 5/7 sweetness: Bulleit Bourbon 5 out of 10, W.L. Weller Special Reserve 7 out of 10
oak 5/4 oak: Bulleit Bourbon 5 out of 10, W.L. Weller Special Reserve 4 out of 10
heat 4/3 heat: Bulleit Bourbon 4 out of 10, W.L. Weller Special Reserve 3 out of 10
fruit 5/5 fruit: Bulleit Bourbon 5 out of 10, W.L. Weller Special Reserve 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Bulleit Bourbon 3 out of 10, W.L. Weller Special Reserve 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The gap between these two is mostly about spice.
- 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 Special Reserve: The entry point to the Weller line and an easy introduction to wheated bourbon. Soft honey and vanilla with almost no rye bite, a bread-dough body, and a short, sweet finish that asks nothing of you.
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 lower price point.
- Go with W.L. Weller Special Reserve if you want the softest, sweetest, most approachable wheated pour of the group.
Best enjoyed old-fashioned, cocktails, highball (Bulleit Bourbon); neat, rocks, highball (W.L. Weller Special Reserve).