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Penelope Toasted Series vs W.L. Weller Special Reserve
Put Penelope Toasted Series next to W.L. Weller Special Reserve and you have a sourced, high-rye blend set against a classic, high-wheat stalwart.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Penelope Toasted Series | W.L. Weller Special Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 21% rye, 4% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) +10 proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$55 – $70 | ~$30 – $60 ~$18 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
Penelope Toasted Series
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
W.L. Weller Special Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Penelope Toasted Series W.L. Weller Special Reserve
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 5/2 spice: Penelope Toasted Series 5 out of 10, W.L. Weller Special Reserve 2 out of 10
oak 7/4 oak: Penelope Toasted Series 7 out of 10, W.L. Weller Special Reserve 4 out of 10
heat 5/3 heat: Penelope Toasted Series 5 out of 10, W.L. Weller Special Reserve 3 out of 10
fruit 4/5 fruit: Penelope Toasted Series 4 out of 10, W.L. Weller Special Reserve 5 out of 10
sweetness 7/7 sweetness: Penelope Toasted Series 7 out of 10, W.L. Weller Special Reserve 7 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Penelope Toasted Series 3 out of 10, W.L. Weller Special Reserve 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The gap between these two is mostly about spice.
- Penelope Toasted Series: Finished in a second, freshly toasted barrel, which pushes it toward toffee, roasted coffee and darker oak. The toast level changes from batch to batch.
- 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 Penelope Toasted Series if you want a toasty, coffee-and-toffee bourbon from a second-barrel finish with more proof behind it and 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 lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Penelope Toasted Series); neat, rocks, highball (W.L. Weller Special Reserve).