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W.L. Weller 12 Year vs Stellum Bourbon
W.L. Weller 12 Year and Stellum Bourbon sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, wheat-forward classic versus an undiluted barrel-strength pour.
Key Specifications
| Feature | W.L. Weller 12 Year | Stellum Bourbon |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon, Barrel Proof |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Age | 12 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) | 115 proof (57.5% ABV) +25 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$70 – $180 | ~$45 – $55 ~$75 less |
| Availability | Allocated | Widely available easier to find |
- W.L. Weller 12 Year and Stellum Bourbon do not publish an official mash bill.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.
Stellum Bourbon
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
W.L. Weller 12 Year Stellum Bourbon
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 2/7 spice: W.L. Weller 12 Year 2 out of 10, Stellum Bourbon 7 out of 10
heat 3/7 heat: W.L. Weller 12 Year 3 out of 10, Stellum Bourbon 7 out of 10
sweetness 8/6 sweetness: W.L. Weller 12 Year 8 out of 10, Stellum Bourbon 6 out of 10
fruit 6/4 fruit: W.L. Weller 12 Year 6 out of 10, Stellum Bourbon 4 out of 10
oak 7/6 oak: W.L. Weller 12 Year 7 out of 10, Stellum Bourbon 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: W.L. Weller 12 Year 3 out of 10, Stellum Bourbon 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.
- Stellum Bourbon: Barrell's lower-priced, cask-strength line. It drinks gentler than its proof, with vanilla and caramel on top of cinnamon, clove and a long, spicy 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 Stellum Bourbon if you want a cask-strength, multi-state blend that drinks easier than its proof at a significantly lower price point and without hunting for it.
Best enjoyed neat (W.L. Weller 12 Year); neat, old-fashioned (Stellum Bourbon).