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W.L. Weller 12 Year vs Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon
Comparing W.L. Weller 12 Year and Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon is a closer contest than it looks — both are wheated bourbons, separated mainly by price (~$70 – $180 vs. ~$40 – $45).
Key Specifications
| Feature | W.L. Weller 12 Year | Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | 75% corn, 15% wheat, 10% malted barley |
| Age | 12 years +8 yr | 4 years |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) +3 proof | 87 proof (43.5% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$70 – $180 | ~$40 – $45 ~$83 less |
| Availability | Allocated | Widely available 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.
Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon
Didn't care for this one.
Flavor Profile
W.L. Weller 12 Year Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 7/4 oak: W.L. Weller 12 Year 7 out of 10, Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon 4 out of 10
sweetness 8/6 sweetness: W.L. Weller 12 Year 8 out of 10, Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon 6 out of 10
fruit 6/4 fruit: W.L. Weller 12 Year 6 out of 10, Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon 4 out of 10
spice 2/2 spice: W.L. Weller 12 Year 2 out of 10, Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon 2 out of 10
heat 3/3 heat: W.L. Weller 12 Year 3 out of 10, Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon 3 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: W.L. Weller 12 Year 3 out of 10, Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Barrel influence is the main separator.
- 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.
- Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon: A farm-to-bottle wheater from northern Illinois. Soft red winter wheat keeps it gentle and bready, with caramel and vanilla up front and very little bite at 87 proof.
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 Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon if you want a soft, easygoing wheated bourbon made start to finish on one Midwest farm at a significantly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat (W.L. Weller 12 Year); rocks, highball, cocktails (Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon).