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Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B vs Wilderness Trail Bottled-in-Bond
On paper Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B and Wilderness Trail Bottled-in-Bond are near neighbours — both wheated bourbons — so price (~$170 – $900 vs. ~$45 – $60) is what actually decides it.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B | Wilderness Trail Bottled-in-Bond |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | 64% corn, 24% wheat, 12% malted barley |
| Age | 12 years +6 yr | 6 years |
| Proof | 90.4 proof (45.2% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) +10 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$170 – $900 | ~$45 – $60 ~$483 less |
| Availability | Allocated | Widely available easier to find |
- Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B 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
Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Wilderness Trail Bottled-in-Bond
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B Wilderness Trail Bottled-in-Bond
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 3/5 heat: Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B 3 out of 10, Wilderness Trail Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
sweetness 8/7 sweetness: Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B 8 out of 10, Wilderness Trail Bottled-in-Bond 7 out of 10
oak 6/5 oak: Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B 6 out of 10, Wilderness Trail Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
fruit 5/6 fruit: Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B 5 out of 10, Wilderness Trail Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/4 nuttiness: Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B 3 out of 10, Wilderness Trail Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10
spice 3/3 spice: Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B 3 out of 10, Wilderness Trail Bottled-in-Bond 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Proof and heat dominate the difference.
- 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.
- Wilderness Trail Bottled-in-Bond: A sweet-mash, bonded wheated bourbon from a distillery founded by two fermentation scientists, and the technical care shows in how clean it tastes. One of the strongest craft arguments on the shelf.
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 with an older age statement.
- Go with Wilderness Trail Bottled-in-Bond if you want a bonded, sweet-mash wheater from a modern distillery doing genuinely careful work at a significantly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat (Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B); neat, rocks (Wilderness Trail Bottled-in-Bond).