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W.L. Weller 12 Year vs Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond
Comparing W.L. Weller 12 Year and Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond reveals a matchup between a traditional, wheated Kentucky staple and a traditional, spice-driven Kentucky staple.
Key Specifications
| Feature | W.L. Weller 12 Year | Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley |
| Age | 12 years +8 yr | 4 years |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) +10 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$70 – $180 | ~$45 – $55 ~$75 less |
| Availability | Allocated | Widely available 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.
Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond
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Flavor Profile
W.L. Weller 12 Year Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 2/6 spice: W.L. Weller 12 Year 2 out of 10, Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10
heat 3/5 heat: W.L. Weller 12 Year 3 out of 10, Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
sweetness 8/7 sweetness: W.L. Weller 12 Year 8 out of 10, Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 7 out of 10
fruit 6/5 fruit: W.L. Weller 12 Year 6 out of 10, Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
oak 7/7 oak: W.L. Weller 12 Year 7 out of 10, Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 7 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: W.L. Weller 12 Year 3 out of 10, Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 3 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.
- Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond: The bonded entry in the Whiskey Row series and a noticeable step up in density from the standard 100. More oak and more weight, though the price gap to the 100 proof is harder to justify than the flavour gap suggests.
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 Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond if you want a bonded, denser take on the Old Forester profile with more barrel behind it at a significantly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat (W.L. Weller 12 Year); neat, old-fashioned (Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond).