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W.L. Weller 12 Year vs Willett Pot Still Reserve
Put W.L. Weller 12 Year next to Willett Pot Still Reserve and you have a classic, high-wheat stalwart set against a contemporary, corn-forward craft build.
Key Specifications
| Feature | W.L. Weller 12 Year | Willett Pot Still Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Age | 12 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) | 94 proof (47% ABV) +4 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$70 – $180 | ~$45 – $60 ~$73 less |
| Availability | Allocated | Widely available easier to find |
- W.L. Weller 12 Year and Willett Pot Still Reserve do not publish an official mash bill.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.
Willett Pot Still Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
W.L. Weller 12 Year Willett Pot Still Reserve
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 2/5 spice: W.L. Weller 12 Year 2 out of 10, Willett Pot Still Reserve 5 out of 10
sweetness 8/7 sweetness: W.L. Weller 12 Year 8 out of 10, Willett Pot Still Reserve 7 out of 10
oak 7/6 oak: W.L. Weller 12 Year 7 out of 10, Willett Pot Still Reserve 6 out of 10
heat 3/4 heat: W.L. Weller 12 Year 3 out of 10, Willett Pot Still Reserve 4 out of 10
nuttiness 3/4 nuttiness: W.L. Weller 12 Year 3 out of 10, Willett Pot Still Reserve 4 out of 10
fruit 6/6 fruit: W.L. Weller 12 Year 6 out of 10, Willett Pot Still Reserve 6 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Rye spice is the dividing line 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.
- Willett Pot Still Reserve: Famous first for the pot-still-shaped decanter and second for the whiskey, which is a fair ordering. Pleasant, sweet and fruit-leaning, with a good deal of the price attached to the glass.
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 Willett Pot Still Reserve if you want a distinctive bottle on the shelf and an easy, fruit-forward pour inside it at a significantly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat (W.L. Weller 12 Year); neat, rocks (Willett Pot Still Reserve).