Compare
W.L. Weller 12 Year vs E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch
Put W.L. Weller 12 Year next to E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch and you have a classic, high-wheat stalwart set against a classic, corn-forward stalwart.
Key Specifications
| Feature | W.L. Weller 12 Year | E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | ~$45 – $90 ~$58 less |
- W.L. Weller 12 Year and E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch do not publish an official mash bill.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. Small Batch
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
W.L. Weller 12 Year E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 2/5 spice: W.L. Weller 12 Year 2 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch 5 out of 10
sweetness 8/6 sweetness: W.L. Weller 12 Year 8 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch 6 out of 10
heat 3/5 heat: W.L. Weller 12 Year 3 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch 5 out of 10
fruit 6/5 fruit: W.L. Weller 12 Year 6 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/4 nuttiness: W.L. Weller 12 Year 3 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch 4 out of 10
oak 7/7 oak: W.L. Weller 12 Year 7 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch 7 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The gap between these two is mostly about spice.
- 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. Small Batch: Bottled-in-bond from the same low-rye Buffalo Trace recipe, and the extra 10 proof over standard BT gives it noticeably more grip. Butterscotch and tobacco with a long, drying finish that outlasts most bottles near its shelf price.
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. Small Batch if you want the Buffalo Trace house profile with real structure and a bonded 100-proof backbone at a significantly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat (W.L. Weller 12 Year); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch).