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W.L. Weller 12 Year vs Woodford Reserve Double Oaked
W.L. Weller 12 Year and Woodford Reserve Double Oaked sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, wheat-forward classic versus an old-guard, rye-forward classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | W.L. Weller 12 Year | Woodford Reserve Double Oaked |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley |
| Age | 12 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) | 90.4 proof (45.2% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$70 – $180 | ~$50 – $62 ~$69 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.
Woodford Reserve Double Oaked
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
W.L. Weller 12 Year Woodford Reserve Double Oaked
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 2/5 spice: W.L. Weller 12 Year 2 out of 10, Woodford Reserve Double Oaked 5 out of 10
oak 7/9 oak: W.L. Weller 12 Year 7 out of 10, Woodford Reserve Double Oaked 9 out of 10
fruit 6/5 fruit: W.L. Weller 12 Year 6 out of 10, Woodford Reserve Double Oaked 5 out of 10
heat 3/4 heat: W.L. Weller 12 Year 3 out of 10, Woodford Reserve Double Oaked 4 out of 10
sweetness 8/8 sweetness: W.L. Weller 12 Year 8 out of 10, Woodford Reserve Double Oaked 8 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: W.L. Weller 12 Year 3 out of 10, Woodford Reserve Double Oaked 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.
- Woodford Reserve Double Oaked: A second barrel, deeply toasted, and the result is unashamedly dessert-like. Maple and caramelised sugar with heavy wood — polarising if you want restraint, excellent if you want sweetness.
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 Woodford Reserve Double Oaked if you want an overtly sweet, heavily oaked, dessert-leaning bourbon at a significantly lower price point and without hunting for it.
Best enjoyed neat (W.L. Weller 12 Year); neat, rocks (Woodford Reserve Double Oaked).