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Old Forester 86 Proof vs W.L. Weller 12 Year
Old Forester 86 Proof and W.L. Weller 12 Year sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, rye-forward classic versus an old-guard, wheat-forward classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Old Forester 86 Proof | 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 | No age statement | 12 years |
| Proof | 86 proof (43% ABV) | 90 proof (45% ABV) +4 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$20 – $26 ~$102 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 86 Proof
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
W.L. Weller 12 Year
No notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Old Forester 86 Proof W.L. Weller 12 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 5/2 spice: Old Forester 86 Proof 5 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 2 out of 10
oak 4/7 oak: Old Forester 86 Proof 4 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 7 out of 10
sweetness 6/8 sweetness: Old Forester 86 Proof 6 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 8 out of 10
fruit 5/6 fruit: Old Forester 86 Proof 5 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 6 out of 10
heat 3/3 heat: Old Forester 86 Proof 3 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 3 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Old Forester 86 Proof 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 86 Proof: The entry bottling and the cheapest way to meet the Old Forester banana-and-caramel signature. Thin at 86 proof, but it costs very little and mixes well.
- 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 86 Proof if you want the Old Forester house character at the lowest possible price 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 cocktails, highball, rocks (Old Forester 86 Proof); neat (W.L. Weller 12 Year).