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Maker’s Mark 46 vs W.L. Weller 12 Year
Maker’s Mark 46 and W.L. Weller 12 Year are cut from similar cloth: two takes on wheated bourbons, where the real difference is price (~$38 – $45 vs. ~$70 – $180).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Maker’s Mark 46 | W.L. Weller 12 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 70% corn, 16% wheat, 14% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | No age statement | 12 years |
| Proof | 94 proof (47% ABV) +4 proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$38 – $45 ~$84 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
Maker’s Mark 46
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
W.L. Weller 12 Year
No notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Maker’s Mark 46 W.L. Weller 12 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 4/2 spice: Maker’s Mark 46 4 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 2 out of 10
fruit 4/6 fruit: Maker’s Mark 46 4 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 6 out of 10
heat 4/3 heat: Maker’s Mark 46 4 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 3 out of 10
sweetness 8/8 sweetness: Maker’s Mark 46 8 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 8 out of 10
oak 7/7 oak: Maker’s Mark 46 7 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 7 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Maker’s Mark 46 3 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The gap between these two is mostly about spice.
- Maker’s Mark 46: Finished with seared French oak staves inside the barrel, which adds the spice and wood that the standard bottling deliberately lacks. The most useful upgrade in the Maker's range.
- 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 Maker’s Mark 46 if you want the softness of Maker's Mark with real oak and spice layered over it at a significantly lower price point and without hunting for 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 (Maker’s Mark 46); neat (W.L. Weller 12 Year).