Compare
W.L. Weller 12 Year vs Eagle Rare 12 Year
Put W.L. Weller 12 Year next to Eagle Rare 12 Year and you have a classic, high-wheat stalwart set against a classic, corn-forward stalwart.
Key Specifications
| Feature | W.L. Weller 12 Year | Eagle Rare 12 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | 12 years | 12 years |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) | 95 proof (47.5% ABV) +5 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$70 – $180 | ~$50 – $80 ~$60 less |
- W.L. Weller 12 Year and Eagle Rare 12 Year do not publish an official mash bill.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.
Eagle Rare 12 Year
Top 3, behind George T. Stagg and Jack Daniel's 14.
Flavor Profile
W.L. Weller 12 Year Eagle Rare 12 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 2/5 spice: W.L. Weller 12 Year 2 out of 10, Eagle Rare 12 Year 5 out of 10
heat 3/5 heat: W.L. Weller 12 Year 3 out of 10, Eagle Rare 12 Year 5 out of 10
sweetness 8/7 sweetness: W.L. Weller 12 Year 8 out of 10, Eagle Rare 12 Year 7 out of 10
nuttiness 3/4 nuttiness: W.L. Weller 12 Year 3 out of 10, Eagle Rare 12 Year 4 out of 10
oak 7/7 oak: W.L. Weller 12 Year 7 out of 10, Eagle Rare 12 Year 7 out of 10
fruit 6/6 fruit: W.L. Weller 12 Year 6 out of 10, Eagle Rare 12 Year 6 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.
- Eagle Rare 12 Year: Two more years and five more proof points than Eagle Rare 10. Brown sugar and toffee lead, with a drier, more astringent oak finish.
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 Eagle Rare 12 Year if you want an older, richer step up from Eagle Rare 10 with more brown sugar and oak at a significantly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat (W.L. Weller 12 Year); neat, rocks (Eagle Rare 12 Year).