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Rowan's Creek vs W.L. Weller 12 Year
Comparing Rowan's Creek and W.L. Weller 12 Year reveals a matchup between a traditional, even-keeled Kentucky staple and a traditional, wheated Kentucky staple.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Rowan's Creek | W.L. Weller 12 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Age | No age statement | 12 years |
| Proof | 100.1 proof (50.0% ABV) +10 proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$40 – $50 ~$80 less | ~$70 – $180 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Allocated |
- Rowan's Creek and W.L. Weller 12 Year do not publish an official mash bill.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
Rowan's Creek
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
W.L. Weller 12 Year
No notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Rowan's Creek W.L. Weller 12 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 7/2 spice: Rowan's Creek 7 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 2 out of 10
oak 4/7 oak: Rowan's Creek 4 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 7 out of 10
sweetness 6/8 sweetness: Rowan's Creek 6 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 8 out of 10
fruit 4/6 fruit: Rowan's Creek 4 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 6 out of 10
heat 5/3 heat: Rowan's Creek 5 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 3 out of 10
nuttiness 2/3 nuttiness: Rowan's Creek 2 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Rye spice is the dividing line here.
- Rowan's Creek: A small-batch Willett bottling that tastes rye-forward and herbal. Honey and caramel sit under mint, hay and warm spice, with a peppermint lift on the finish.
- 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 Rowan's Creek if you want an herbal, minty, rye-forward Willett bottling at a significantly lower price point and with more proof behind 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 neat, old-fashioned, cocktails (Rowan's Creek); neat (W.L. Weller 12 Year).