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W.L. Weller Full Proof vs W.L. Weller Special Reserve
W.L. Weller Full Proof and W.L. Weller Special Reserve sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, wheat-forward classic versus an old-guard, wheat-forward classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | W.L. Weller Full Proof | W.L. Weller Special Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 114 proof (57% ABV) +24 proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$50 – $120 | ~$30 – $60 ~$40 less |
- W.L. Weller Full Proof and W.L. Weller Special Reserve do not publish an official mash bill.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.
W.L. Weller Special Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
W.L. Weller Full Proof W.L. Weller Special Reserve
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 7/3 heat: W.L. Weller Full Proof 7 out of 10, W.L. Weller Special Reserve 3 out of 10
oak 6/4 oak: W.L. Weller Full Proof 6 out of 10, W.L. Weller Special Reserve 4 out of 10
sweetness 8/7 sweetness: W.L. Weller Full Proof 8 out of 10, W.L. Weller Special Reserve 7 out of 10
spice 3/2 spice: W.L. Weller Full Proof 3 out of 10, W.L. Weller Special Reserve 2 out of 10
fruit 4/5 fruit: W.L. Weller Full Proof 4 out of 10, W.L. Weller Special Reserve 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: W.L. Weller Full Proof 3 out of 10, W.L. Weller Special Reserve 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
These two land very differently on the palate for heat.
- 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.
- W.L. Weller Special Reserve: The entry point to the Weller line and an easy introduction to wheated bourbon. Soft honey and vanilla with almost no rye bite, a bread-dough body, and a short, sweet finish that asks nothing of you.
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 W.L. Weller Special Reserve if you want the softest, sweetest, most approachable wheated pour of the group at a significantly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned (W.L. Weller Full Proof); neat, rocks, highball (W.L. Weller Special Reserve).