Compare
Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon vs W.L. Weller Special Reserve
Comparing Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon and W.L. Weller Special Reserve reveals a matchup between a blender-built, even-keeled bottling and a traditional, wheated Kentucky staple.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon | W.L. Weller Special Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) +10 proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$85 – $100 | ~$30 – $60 ~$48 less |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Allocated |
- Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon and W.L. Weller Special Reserve do not publish an official mash bill.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 Special Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon W.L. Weller Special Reserve
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 5/2 spice: Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 5 out of 10, W.L. Weller Special Reserve 2 out of 10
fruit 8/5 fruit: Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 8 out of 10, W.L. Weller Special Reserve 5 out of 10
oak 6/4 oak: Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 6 out of 10, W.L. Weller Special Reserve 4 out of 10
heat 5/3 heat: Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 5 out of 10, W.L. Weller Special Reserve 3 out of 10
nuttiness 5/3 nuttiness: Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 5 out of 10, W.L. Weller Special Reserve 3 out of 10
sweetness 8/7 sweetness: Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 8 out of 10, W.L. Weller Special Reserve 7 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Rye spice is the dividing line here.
- 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 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 Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon if you want a sherry-and-Cognac-finished bourbon full of dried fruit and dark chocolate with more proof behind it.
- Go with W.L. Weller Special Reserve if you want the softest, sweetest, most approachable wheated pour of the group at a significantly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat (Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon); neat, rocks, highball (W.L. Weller Special Reserve).