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Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish vs W.L. Weller 12 Year
Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 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 | Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish | 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 | 91.4 proof (45.7% ABV) | 90 proof (45% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$90 – $130 ~$15 less | ~$70 – $180 |
| Availability | Limited easier to find | Allocated |
- Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish and W.L. Weller 12 Year do not publish an official mash bill.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
Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
W.L. Weller 12 Year
No notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish W.L. Weller 12 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 4/2 spice: Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 4 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 2 out of 10
oak 8/7 oak: Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 8 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 7 out of 10
fruit 5/6 fruit: Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 5 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 6 out of 10
heat 4/3 heat: Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 4 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 3 out of 10
nuttiness 4/3 nuttiness: Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 4 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 3 out of 10
sweetness 8/8 sweetness: Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 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.
- Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish: The standard Michter's bourbon given a second toasted barrel, which adds sweetness and wood to an already polished pour. Genuinely good, though the price has drifted well past what the liquid alone justifies.
- 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 Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish if you want the smoothest, most polished toasted-barrel pour here and price is not the deciding factor 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 (Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish); neat (W.L. Weller 12 Year).