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W.L. Weller 12 Year vs Elijah Craig Barrel Proof
W.L. Weller 12 Year and Elijah Craig Barrel Proof sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, wheat-forward classic versus an undiluted barrel-strength pour.
Key Specifications
| Feature | W.L. Weller 12 Year | Elijah Craig Barrel Proof |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon, Barrel Proof |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | 12 years | 12 years |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) | 124 proof (62% ABV) +34 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$70 – $180 | ~$70 – $100 ~$40 less |
| Availability | Allocated | Limited 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.
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
W.L. Weller 12 Year Elijah Craig Barrel Proof
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 3/9 heat: W.L. Weller 12 Year 3 out of 10, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 9 out of 10
spice 2/7 spice: W.L. Weller 12 Year 2 out of 10, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 7 out of 10
oak 7/9 oak: W.L. Weller 12 Year 7 out of 10, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 9 out of 10
fruit 6/4 fruit: W.L. Weller 12 Year 6 out of 10, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 4 out of 10
sweetness 8/7 sweetness: W.L. Weller 12 Year 8 out of 10, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 7 out of 10
nuttiness 3/4 nuttiness: W.L. Weller 12 Year 3 out of 10, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 4 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Proof and heat dominate the difference.
- 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.
- Elijah Craig Barrel Proof: The uncut, unfiltered version of the same 12-year Heaven Hill juice, and the intensity is the whole point. Thick fudge and char with cinnamon heat, a genuinely long finish, and enough proof that water meaningfully changes the glass.
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 Elijah Craig Barrel Proof if you want maximum intensity and oak depth, and you want to control the dilution yourself at a significantly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat (W.L. Weller 12 Year); neat (Elijah Craig Barrel Proof).