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W.L. Weller 12 Year vs Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel
Put W.L. Weller 12 Year next to Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel and you have a classic, high-wheat stalwart set against a classic, high-rye stalwart.
Key Specifications
| Feature | W.L. Weller 12 Year | Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | 12 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) | 110 proof (55% ABV) +20 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$70 – $180 | ~$55 – $70 ~$63 less |
| Availability | Allocated | Limited 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.
Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
W.L. Weller 12 Year Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 2/8 spice: W.L. Weller 12 Year 2 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 8 out of 10
heat 3/7 heat: W.L. Weller 12 Year 3 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 7 out of 10
sweetness 8/6 sweetness: W.L. Weller 12 Year 8 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 6 out of 10
fruit 6/4 fruit: W.L. Weller 12 Year 6 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 4 out of 10
oak 7/8 oak: W.L. Weller 12 Year 7 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 8 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: W.L. Weller 12 Year 3 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 3 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.
- Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel: Non-chill-filtered single barrels at 110 proof, and the format that store picks have made a cult of. Concentrated Wild Turkey character with a texture the standard bottlings do not have.
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 Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel if you want concentrated Wild Turkey character with single-barrel variation and real texture at a significantly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat (W.L. Weller 12 Year); neat, old-fashioned (Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel).