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Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year vs W.L. Weller 12 Year
Comparing Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year and W.L. Weller 12 Year reveals a matchup between a traditional, even-keeled Kentucky staple and a traditional, wheated Kentucky staple.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year | W.L. Weller 12 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | 7 years | 12 years +5 yr |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) +10 proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$35 – $45 ~$85 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
Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
W.L. Weller 12 Year
No notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year W.L. Weller 12 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 5/2 spice: Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year 5 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 2 out of 10
sweetness 6/8 sweetness: Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year 6 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 8 out of 10
fruit 4/6 fruit: Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year 4 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 6 out of 10
heat 5/3 heat: Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year 5 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 3 out of 10
nuttiness 5/3 nuttiness: Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year 5 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 3 out of 10
oak 7/7 oak: Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year 7 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 7 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The gap between these two is mostly about spice.
- Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year: Seven years, bonded, and priced sensibly — the specification sheet reads like something from twenty years ago. Balanced and oak-leaning without ever getting heavy.
- 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 Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year if you want a bonded, age-stated Kentucky bourbon that gets the fundamentals right for under forty dollars with more proof behind it.
- 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 neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year); neat (W.L. Weller 12 Year).