Compare
Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel vs W.L. Weller Special Reserve
Comparing Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel and W.L. Weller Special Reserve reveals a matchup between a traditional, even-keeled Kentucky staple and a traditional, wheated Kentucky staple.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel | W.L. Weller Special Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 94 proof (47% ABV) +4 proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$60 – $80 | ~$30 – $60 ~$25 less |
| Availability | Limited 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
Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
W.L. Weller Special Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel W.L. Weller Special Reserve
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 9/4 oak: Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel 9 out of 10, W.L. Weller Special Reserve 4 out of 10
spice 5/2 spice: Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel 5 out of 10, W.L. Weller Special Reserve 2 out of 10
nuttiness 5/3 nuttiness: Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel 5 out of 10, W.L. Weller Special Reserve 3 out of 10
sweetness 8/7 sweetness: Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel 8 out of 10, W.L. Weller Special Reserve 7 out of 10
fruit 4/5 fruit: Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel 4 out of 10, W.L. Weller Special Reserve 5 out of 10
heat 4/3 heat: Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel 4 out of 10, W.L. Weller Special Reserve 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Oak is doing most of the differentiating here.
- Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel: Finished in a second toasted (not charred) barrel, which produces an unmistakable toasted-marshmallow note. Sweet and heavily wooded, and one of the more distinctive finishes any major producer makes.
- 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 Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel if you want a distinctive toasted-oak, marshmallow-sweet finish you will not find in a standard bourbon.
- Go with W.L. Weller Special Reserve if you want the softest, sweetest, most approachable wheated pour of the group at a lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel); neat, rocks, highball (W.L. Weller Special Reserve).