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W.L. Weller 12 Year vs E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel
W.L. Weller 12 Year and E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, wheat-forward classic versus an old-guard, classically built classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | W.L. Weller 12 Year | E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | 12 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) +10 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$70 – $180 | ~$70 – $140 ~$20 less |
- W.L. Weller 12 Year and E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel do not publish an official mash bill.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.
E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
W.L. Weller 12 Year E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 2/5 spice: W.L. Weller 12 Year 2 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel 5 out of 10
sweetness 8/6 sweetness: W.L. Weller 12 Year 8 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel 6 out of 10
heat 3/5 heat: W.L. Weller 12 Year 3 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel 5 out of 10
oak 7/8 oak: W.L. Weller 12 Year 7 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel 8 out of 10
fruit 6/5 fruit: W.L. Weller 12 Year 6 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/4 nuttiness: W.L. Weller 12 Year 3 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel 4 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.
- E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel: Single barrels from the warehouse Colonel Taylor built, bonded at 100 proof. More oak and more concentration than the small batch, and one of the most sought-after regular releases Buffalo Trace makes.
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 E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel if you want the most concentrated bonded expression of the Buffalo Trace profile, and the hunt does not deter you at a lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat (W.L. Weller 12 Year); neat (E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel).