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W.L. Weller 12 Year vs Bulleit Bourbon
W.L. Weller 12 Year and Bulleit Bourbon sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, wheat-forward classic versus a sourced, rye-forward blend.
Key Specifications
| Feature | W.L. Weller 12 Year | Bulleit Bourbon |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | 68% corn, 28% rye, 4% malted barley |
| Age | 12 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) | 90 proof (45% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$70 – $180 | ~$25 – $32 ~$97 less |
| Availability | Allocated | Widely available easier to find |
- 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
W.L. Weller 12 Year
No notes yet.
Bulleit Bourbon
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
W.L. Weller 12 Year Bulleit Bourbon
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 2/7 spice: W.L. Weller 12 Year 2 out of 10, Bulleit Bourbon 7 out of 10
sweetness 8/5 sweetness: W.L. Weller 12 Year 8 out of 10, Bulleit Bourbon 5 out of 10
oak 7/5 oak: W.L. Weller 12 Year 7 out of 10, Bulleit Bourbon 5 out of 10
fruit 6/5 fruit: W.L. Weller 12 Year 6 out of 10, Bulleit Bourbon 5 out of 10
heat 3/4 heat: W.L. Weller 12 Year 3 out of 10, Bulleit Bourbon 4 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: W.L. Weller 12 Year 3 out of 10, Bulleit Bourbon 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Rye spice is the dividing line here.
- 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.
- Bulleit Bourbon: The bottle that put high-rye bourbon in every cocktail bar in the country. Peppery and dry with the familiar MGP dill note, and it earns its place behind the bar more than in a glass on its own.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with W.L. Weller 12 Year if you want age and elegance on a wheated mash, and you are willing to chase it.
- Go with Bulleit Bourbon if you want a dry, peppery, high-rye bourbon built for cocktails and available absolutely everywhere at a significantly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat (W.L. Weller 12 Year); old-fashioned, cocktails, highball (Bulleit Bourbon).