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W.L. Weller 12 Year vs Penelope Four Grain
Comparing W.L. Weller 12 Year and Penelope Four Grain reveals a matchup between a traditional, wheated Kentucky staple and a sourced, even-keeled blend.
Key Specifications
| Feature | W.L. Weller 12 Year | Penelope Four Grain |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon | Four-Grain Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | 74% corn, 7% rye, 16% wheat, 3% malted barley |
| Age | 12 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) +10 proof | 80 proof (40% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$70 – $180 | ~$30 – $40 ~$90 less |
| Availability | Allocated | Widely available easier to find |
- W.L. Weller 12 Year and Penelope Four Grain do not publish an official mash bill.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.
Penelope Four Grain
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
W.L. Weller 12 Year Penelope Four Grain
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 7/3 oak: W.L. Weller 12 Year 7 out of 10, Penelope Four Grain 3 out of 10
sweetness 8/6 sweetness: W.L. Weller 12 Year 8 out of 10, Penelope Four Grain 6 out of 10
spice 2/3 spice: W.L. Weller 12 Year 2 out of 10, Penelope Four Grain 3 out of 10
fruit 6/5 fruit: W.L. Weller 12 Year 6 out of 10, Penelope Four Grain 5 out of 10
heat 3/2 heat: W.L. Weller 12 Year 3 out of 10, Penelope Four Grain 2 out of 10
nuttiness 3/4 nuttiness: W.L. Weller 12 Year 3 out of 10, Penelope Four Grain 4 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Oak is doing most of the differentiating 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.
- Penelope Four Grain: A light, low-proof blend of corn, wheat, rye and barley. Honey, almond and orchard fruit keep it sweet and easy, though it reads young and thin when sipped neat.
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 with more proof behind it.
- Go with Penelope Four Grain if you want an easy, light, honeyed bourbon that mixes well at a significantly lower price point and without hunting for it.
Best enjoyed neat (W.L. Weller 12 Year); highball, cocktails (Penelope Four Grain).