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Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B vs Copper & Kings Butchertown Bourbon

Comparing Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B and Copper & Kings Butchertown Bourbon reveals a matchup between a traditional, wheated Kentucky staple and a blender-built, even-keeled bottling.

Key Specifications

Feature Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B Copper & Kings Butchertown Bourbon
Type / Style Wheated Bourbon Traditional Bourbon
Mash Bill 1 Not disclosed Not disclosed
Age 12 years No age statement
Proof 90.4 proof (45.2% ABV) 111 proof (55.5% ABV) +21 proof
Approx. Price 2 ~$170 – $900 ~$40 – $70 ~$480 less
Availability Allocated Limited easier to find
  1. Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B and Copper & Kings Butchertown Bourbon do not publish an official mash bill.
  2. US shelf prices as of 2026-10; they vary widely by market.

AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes

Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B

Not rated yet

No notes yet.

Copper & Kings Butchertown Bourbon

Not rated yet

No notes yet.

Flavor Profile

Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B Copper & Kings Butchertown Bourbon
sweetnessspiceoakfruitheatnuttiness

Axis by axis, biggest gap first

spice 3/6 spice: Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B 3 out of 10, Copper & Kings Butchertown Bourbon 6 out of 10
fruit 5/8 fruit: Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B 5 out of 10, Copper & Kings Butchertown Bourbon 8 out of 10
heat 3/6 heat: Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B 3 out of 10, Copper & Kings Butchertown Bourbon 6 out of 10
sweetness 8/7 sweetness: Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B 8 out of 10, Copper & Kings Butchertown Bourbon 7 out of 10
oak 6/6 oak: Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B 6 out of 10, Copper & Kings Butchertown Bourbon 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B 3 out of 10, Copper & Kings Butchertown Bourbon 3 out of 10

Flavor Profile Differences

The gap between these two is mostly about spice.

  • Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B: Twelve-year wheated bourbon from the Van Winkle line. Soft and balanced, with butterscotch, toffee and caramel and a gentle, spiced finish.
  • Copper & Kings Butchertown Bourbon: Kentucky bourbon finished in the Louisville brandy maker's apple brandy barrels. The finish reads like caramel apple pie: baked apple and cinnamon over a sturdy oak base.

Which One Should You Choose?

  • Go with Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B if you want a soft, balanced, 12-year wheater from the Van Winkle line.
  • Go with Copper & Kings Butchertown Bourbon if you want an apple-brandy-finished bourbon that tastes like caramel apple pie at a significantly lower price point and with more proof behind it.

Best enjoyed neat (Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B); neat, old-fashioned (Copper & Kings Butchertown Bourbon).