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W.L. Weller 12 Year vs Wild Turkey 101
Put W.L. Weller 12 Year next to Wild Turkey 101 and you have a classic, high-wheat stalwart set against a classic, high-rye stalwart.
Key Specifications
| Feature | W.L. Weller 12 Year | Wild Turkey 101 |
|---|---|---|
| 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) | 101 proof (50.5% ABV) +11 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$70 – $180 | ~$25 – $30 ~$98 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.
Wild Turkey 101
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
W.L. Weller 12 Year Wild Turkey 101
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 2/8 spice: W.L. Weller 12 Year 2 out of 10, Wild Turkey 101 8 out of 10
heat 3/6 heat: W.L. Weller 12 Year 3 out of 10, Wild Turkey 101 6 out of 10
sweetness 8/6 sweetness: W.L. Weller 12 Year 8 out of 10, Wild Turkey 101 6 out of 10
fruit 6/4 fruit: W.L. Weller 12 Year 6 out of 10, Wild Turkey 101 4 out of 10
oak 7/7 oak: W.L. Weller 12 Year 7 out of 10, Wild Turkey 101 7 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: W.L. Weller 12 Year 3 out of 10, Wild Turkey 101 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.
- Wild Turkey 101: The workhorse high-rye Kentucky bourbon and one of the best proof-to-price ratios anywhere. Vanilla and orange up front, then a genuinely spicy, peppery, tobacco-tinged middle that punches well above $25.
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 Wild Turkey 101 if you want bold rye spice and real proof at the lowest price of anything comparable without hunting for it.
Best enjoyed neat (W.L. Weller 12 Year); neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Wild Turkey 101).