Compare
Old Forester Statesman vs W.L. Weller Special Reserve
Put Old Forester Statesman next to W.L. Weller Special Reserve and you have a classic, high-rye stalwart set against a classic, high-wheat stalwart.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Old Forester Statesman | W.L. Weller Special Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 95 proof (47.5% ABV) +5 proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$50 – $55 | ~$30 – $60 ~$8 less |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Allocated |
- W.L. Weller Special Reserve does not publish an official mash bill.
- US shelf prices as of 2026-10; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Old Forester Statesman
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
W.L. Weller Special Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Old Forester Statesman W.L. Weller Special Reserve
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 5/2 spice: Old Forester Statesman 5 out of 10, W.L. Weller Special Reserve 2 out of 10
fruit 7/5 fruit: Old Forester Statesman 7 out of 10, W.L. Weller Special Reserve 5 out of 10
sweetness 8/7 sweetness: Old Forester Statesman 8 out of 10, W.L. Weller Special Reserve 7 out of 10
oak 5/4 oak: Old Forester Statesman 5 out of 10, W.L. Weller Special Reserve 4 out of 10
heat 4/3 heat: Old Forester Statesman 4 out of 10, W.L. Weller Special Reserve 3 out of 10
nuttiness 2/3 nuttiness: Old Forester Statesman 2 out of 10, W.L. Weller Special Reserve 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The gap between these two is mostly about spice.
- Old Forester Statesman: Old Forester's fruit-forward middle child, first made for a spy movie tie-in. Bright cherry and brown sugar lead, with cocoa and a touch of the house banana note.
- 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 Forester Statesman if you want a bright, cherry-sweet Old Forester that sits between the 100 and 1920 in weight without hunting for it.
- Go with W.L. Weller Special Reserve if you want the softest, sweetest, most approachable wheated pour of the group at a slightly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Old Forester Statesman); neat, rocks, highball (W.L. Weller Special Reserve).