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Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond vs W.L. Weller Special Reserve
Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond and W.L. Weller Special Reserve are cut from similar cloth: two takes on wheated bourbons, where the real difference is price (~$110 – $180 vs. ~$30 – $60).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond | W.L. Weller Special Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 68% corn, 20% wheat, 12% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | 9 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) +10 proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$110 – $180 | ~$30 – $60 ~$100 less |
- W.L. Weller Special Reserve 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
Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
W.L. Weller Special Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond W.L. Weller Special Reserve
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 7/4 oak: Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 7 out of 10, W.L. Weller Special Reserve 4 out of 10
sweetness 8/7 sweetness: Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 8 out of 10, W.L. Weller Special Reserve 7 out of 10
fruit 6/5 fruit: Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10, W.L. Weller Special Reserve 5 out of 10
heat 4/3 heat: Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10, W.L. Weller Special Reserve 3 out of 10
spice 2/2 spice: Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 2 out of 10, W.L. Weller Special Reserve 2 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 3 out of 10, W.L. Weller Special Reserve 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Barrel influence is the main separator.
- Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond: The decanter series, released twice a year at varying ages, and Heaven Hill's most serious wheated statement. Age shows as polished oak and stewed fruit rather than tannin, but you pay handsomely for the bottle.
- 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 Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond if you want an aged, bonded wheater in a presentation bottle and the price is not the obstacle 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 (Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond); neat, rocks, highball (W.L. Weller Special Reserve).