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W.L. Weller 12 Year vs Old Grand-Dad Bonded
Comparing W.L. Weller 12 Year and Old Grand-Dad Bonded 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 Grand-Dad Bonded |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | 63% corn, 27% 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 | ~$24 – $30 ~$98 less |
| Availability | Allocated | Widely available easier to find |
- W.L. Weller 12 Year and Old Grand-Dad Bonded do not publish an official mash bill.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.
Old Grand-Dad Bonded
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Flavor Profile
W.L. Weller 12 Year Old Grand-Dad Bonded
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 2/8 spice: W.L. Weller 12 Year 2 out of 10, Old Grand-Dad Bonded 8 out of 10
sweetness 8/5 sweetness: W.L. Weller 12 Year 8 out of 10, Old Grand-Dad Bonded 5 out of 10
heat 3/6 heat: W.L. Weller 12 Year 3 out of 10, Old Grand-Dad Bonded 6 out of 10
oak 7/5 oak: W.L. Weller 12 Year 7 out of 10, Old Grand-Dad Bonded 5 out of 10
fruit 6/4 fruit: W.L. Weller 12 Year 6 out of 10, Old Grand-Dad Bonded 4 out of 10
nuttiness 3/5 nuttiness: W.L. Weller 12 Year 3 out of 10, Old Grand-Dad Bonded 5 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 Grand-Dad Bonded: A bonded 100-proof high-rye bourbon for the price of a mixer, and one of the great bargains on the shelf. Cleaner and less overwhelming than the 114 while keeping the peppery rye backbone.
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 Grand-Dad Bonded if you want a bonded, high-rye workhorse at mixer money with more proof behind it and without hunting for it.
Best enjoyed neat (W.L. Weller 12 Year); neat, old-fashioned, cocktails (Old Grand-Dad Bonded).