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W.L. Weller 12 Year vs Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond Double Mash
W.L. Weller 12 Year and Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond Double Mash 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 | Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond Double Mash |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | 75% corn, 7% rye, 6% wheat, 12% malted barley |
| Age | 12 years +3 yr | 9 years |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) +10 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$70 – $180 | ~$50 – $55 ~$73 less |
| Availability | Allocated | Limited easier to find |
- W.L. Weller 12 Year and Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond Double Mash do not publish an official mash bill.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.
Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond Double Mash
Very good. Flavorful without being too powerful.
Flavor Profile
W.L. Weller 12 Year Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond Double Mash
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 2/5 spice: W.L. Weller 12 Year 2 out of 10, Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond Double Mash 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/6 nuttiness: W.L. Weller 12 Year 3 out of 10, Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond Double Mash 6 out of 10
heat 3/5 heat: W.L. Weller 12 Year 3 out of 10, Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond Double Mash 5 out of 10
sweetness 8/7 sweetness: W.L. Weller 12 Year 8 out of 10, Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond Double Mash 7 out of 10
fruit 6/5 fruit: W.L. Weller 12 Year 6 out of 10, Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond Double Mash 5 out of 10
oak 7/7 oak: W.L. Weller 12 Year 7 out of 10, Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond Double Mash 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.
- Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond Double Mash: Nine-year Heaven Hill in two flavors at once: the classic rye recipe brings structure and nutty oak, while a third of wheated bourbon rounds off the edges. It drinks fuller and softer than the standard bonded bottle.
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 Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond Double Mash if you want a well-aged bonded bourbon that blends Heaven Hill's rye and wheat recipes into one balanced pour at a significantly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat (W.L. Weller 12 Year); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond Double Mash).