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Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond vs W.L. Weller 12 Year
Comparing Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond and W.L. Weller 12 Year reveals a matchup between a traditional, spice-driven Kentucky staple and a traditional, wheated Kentucky staple.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond | W.L. Weller 12 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | 4 years | 12 years +8 yr |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) +10 proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$45 – $55 ~$75 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
Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
W.L. Weller 12 Year
No notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond W.L. Weller 12 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 6/2 spice: Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 2 out of 10
heat 5/3 heat: Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 3 out of 10
sweetness 7/8 sweetness: Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 7 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 8 out of 10
fruit 5/6 fruit: Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 6 out of 10
oak 7/7 oak: Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 7 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 7 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 3 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Rye spice is the dividing line here.
- Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond: The bonded entry in the Whiskey Row series and a noticeable step up in density from the standard 100. More oak and more weight, though the price gap to the 100 proof is harder to justify than the flavour gap suggests.
- 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 Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond if you want a bonded, denser take on the Old Forester profile with more barrel behind it 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, old-fashioned (Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond); neat (W.L. Weller 12 Year).