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W.L. Weller Full Proof vs Old Forester Statesman
W.L. Weller Full Proof and Old Forester Statesman 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 Full Proof | Old Forester Statesman |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 114 proof (57% ABV) +19 proof | 95 proof (47.5% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$50 – $120 | ~$50 – $55 ~$33 less |
| Availability | Allocated | Widely available easier to find |
- W.L. Weller Full Proof does not publish an official mash bill.
- US shelf prices as of 2026-10; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
W.L. Weller Full Proof
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Old Forester Statesman
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
W.L. Weller Full Proof Old Forester Statesman
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 4/7 fruit: W.L. Weller Full Proof 4 out of 10, Old Forester Statesman 7 out of 10
heat 7/4 heat: W.L. Weller Full Proof 7 out of 10, Old Forester Statesman 4 out of 10
spice 3/5 spice: W.L. Weller Full Proof 3 out of 10, Old Forester Statesman 5 out of 10
oak 6/5 oak: W.L. Weller Full Proof 6 out of 10, Old Forester Statesman 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/2 nuttiness: W.L. Weller Full Proof 3 out of 10, Old Forester Statesman 2 out of 10
sweetness 8/8 sweetness: W.L. Weller Full Proof 8 out of 10, Old Forester Statesman 8 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Fruit character is what sets these apart.
- W.L. Weller Full Proof: Weller's wheated bourbon bottled at its barrel-entry proof of 114, without chill filtering. Coffee cake, caramel and cinnamon with a bold, warming body.
- Old Forester Statesman: Old Forester's fruit-forward middle child, first made for a spy movie tie-in. Bright cherry and brown sugar lead, with cocoa and a touch of the house banana note.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with W.L. Weller Full Proof if you want a bold, sweet wheater bottled at barrel-entry proof with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
- Go with Old Forester Statesman if you want a bright, cherry-sweet Old Forester that sits between the 100 and 1920 in weight at a significantly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned (W.L. Weller Full Proof); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Old Forester Statesman).