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W.L. Weller 12 Year vs Rowan's Creek
Comparing W.L. Weller 12 Year and Rowan's Creek reveals a matchup between a traditional, wheated Kentucky staple and a traditional, even-keeled Kentucky staple.
Key Specifications
| Feature | W.L. Weller 12 Year | Rowan's Creek |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Age | 12 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) | 100.1 proof (50.0% ABV) +10 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$70 – $180 | ~$40 – $50 ~$80 less |
| Availability | Allocated | Widely available easier to find |
- W.L. Weller 12 Year and Rowan's Creek do not publish an official mash bill.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.
Rowan's Creek
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
W.L. Weller 12 Year Rowan's Creek
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 2/7 spice: W.L. Weller 12 Year 2 out of 10, Rowan's Creek 7 out of 10
oak 7/4 oak: W.L. Weller 12 Year 7 out of 10, Rowan's Creek 4 out of 10
sweetness 8/6 sweetness: W.L. Weller 12 Year 8 out of 10, Rowan's Creek 6 out of 10
fruit 6/4 fruit: W.L. Weller 12 Year 6 out of 10, Rowan's Creek 4 out of 10
heat 3/5 heat: W.L. Weller 12 Year 3 out of 10, Rowan's Creek 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/2 nuttiness: W.L. Weller 12 Year 3 out of 10, Rowan's Creek 2 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.
- Rowan's Creek: A small-batch Willett bottling that tastes rye-forward and herbal. Honey and caramel sit under mint, hay and warm spice, with a peppermint lift on the finish.
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 Rowan's Creek if you want an herbal, minty, rye-forward Willett bottling at a significantly lower price point and with more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed neat (W.L. Weller 12 Year); neat, old-fashioned, cocktails (Rowan's Creek).