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W.L. Weller 12 Year vs Wild Turkey 81
Put W.L. Weller 12 Year next to Wild Turkey 81 and you have a classic, high-wheat stalwart set against a classic, corn-forward stalwart.
Key Specifications
| Feature | W.L. Weller 12 Year | Wild Turkey 81 |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | 12 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) +9 proof | 81 proof (40.5% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$70 – $180 | ~$20 – $25 ~$103 less |
| Availability | Allocated | Widely available easier to find |
- W.L. Weller 12 Year and Wild Turkey 81 do not publish an official mash bill.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.
Wild Turkey 81
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
W.L. Weller 12 Year Wild Turkey 81
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 7/4 oak: W.L. Weller 12 Year 7 out of 10, Wild Turkey 81 4 out of 10
fruit 6/3 fruit: W.L. Weller 12 Year 6 out of 10, Wild Turkey 81 3 out of 10
sweetness 8/6 sweetness: W.L. Weller 12 Year 8 out of 10, Wild Turkey 81 6 out of 10
spice 2/4 spice: W.L. Weller 12 Year 2 out of 10, Wild Turkey 81 4 out of 10
heat 3/2 heat: W.L. Weller 12 Year 3 out of 10, Wild Turkey 81 2 out of 10
nuttiness 3/2 nuttiness: W.L. Weller 12 Year 3 out of 10, Wild Turkey 81 2 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Oak is doing most of the differentiating 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.
- Wild Turkey 81: The same mash bill and No. 4 char as Wild Turkey 101, cut to 81 proof. Honey and toffee come through clearly, but the body and spice are much lighter.
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 with slightly more proof behind it.
- Go with Wild Turkey 81 if you want a lighter Wild Turkey built for mixing at a significantly lower price point and without hunting for it.
Best enjoyed neat (W.L. Weller 12 Year); highball, cocktails (Wild Turkey 81).