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Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon vs W.L. Weller 12 Year
Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon and W.L. Weller 12 Year sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: a sourced, classically built blend versus an old-guard, wheat-forward classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon | W.L. Weller 12 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Age | No age statement | 12 years |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) +10 proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$85 – $100 ~$33 less | ~$70 – $180 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Allocated |
- Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon and W.L. Weller 12 Year do not publish an official mash bill.
- US shelf prices as of 2026-10; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
W.L. Weller 12 Year
No notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon W.L. Weller 12 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 5/2 spice: Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 5 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 2 out of 10
fruit 8/6 fruit: Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 8 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 6 out of 10
heat 5/3 heat: Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 5 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 3 out of 10
nuttiness 5/3 nuttiness: Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 5 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 3 out of 10
oak 6/7 oak: Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 6 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 7 out of 10
sweetness 8/8 sweetness: Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 8 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 8 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The gap between these two is mostly about spice.
- Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon: Finished in Oloroso sherry, Pedro Ximenez sherry and Cognac casks. The casks layer dried fruit, orange and dark chocolate over the bourbon and leave a long, clove-spiced finish.
- 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 Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon if you want a sherry-and-Cognac-finished bourbon full of dried fruit and dark chocolate 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 neat (Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon); neat (W.L. Weller 12 Year).