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Evan Williams Black Label vs W.L. Weller 12 Year
Evan Williams Black Label and W.L. Weller 12 Year sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, classically built classic versus an old-guard, wheat-forward classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Evan Williams Black Label | W.L. Weller 12 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | No age statement | 12 years |
| Proof | 86 proof (43% ABV) | 90 proof (45% ABV) +4 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$14 – $18 ~$109 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
Evan Williams Black Label
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
W.L. Weller 12 Year
No notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Evan Williams Black Label W.L. Weller 12 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
sweetness 6/8 sweetness: Evan Williams Black Label 6 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 8 out of 10
spice 4/2 spice: Evan Williams Black Label 4 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 2 out of 10
oak 5/7 oak: Evan Williams Black Label 5 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 7 out of 10
fruit 4/6 fruit: Evan Williams Black Label 4 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 6 out of 10
nuttiness 4/3 nuttiness: Evan Williams Black Label 4 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 3 out of 10
heat 3/3 heat: Evan Williams Black Label 3 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The clearest split is how sweet each one drinks.
- Evan Williams Black Label: The everyday black label, and a perfectly competent well bourbon. Softer and sweeter than the bonded version, with less to say but nothing objectionable.
- 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 Evan Williams Black Label if you want a dependable, inexpensive mixing bourbon and nothing more complicated than that 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 cocktails, highball, rocks (Evan Williams Black Label); neat (W.L. Weller 12 Year).