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Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel vs W.L. Weller 12 Year
Put Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel next to W.L. Weller 12 Year and you have a classic, high-rye stalwart set against a classic, high-wheat stalwart.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel | W.L. Weller 12 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | No age statement | 12 years |
| Proof | 110 proof (55% ABV) +20 proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$55 – $70 ~$63 less | ~$70 – $180 |
| Availability | Limited 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
Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
W.L. Weller 12 Year
No notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel W.L. Weller 12 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 8/2 spice: Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 8 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 2 out of 10
heat 7/3 heat: Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 7 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 3 out of 10
sweetness 6/8 sweetness: Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 6 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 8 out of 10
fruit 4/6 fruit: Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 4 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 6 out of 10
oak 8/7 oak: Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 8 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 7 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 3 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The gap between these two is mostly about spice.
- Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel: Non-chill-filtered single barrels at 110 proof, and the format that store picks have made a cult of. Concentrated Wild Turkey character with a texture the standard bottlings do not have.
- 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 Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel if you want concentrated Wild Turkey character with single-barrel variation and real texture 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 (Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel); neat (W.L. Weller 12 Year).