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W.L. Weller Special Reserve vs Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond Double Mash
W.L. Weller Special Reserve and Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond Double Mash sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, wheat-forward classic versus an old-guard, classically built classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | W.L. Weller Special Reserve | Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond Double Mash |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | 75% corn, 7% rye, 6% wheat, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 9 years |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) +10 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$30 – $60 ~$8 less | ~$50 – $55 |
| Availability | Allocated | Limited easier to find |
- W.L. Weller Special Reserve and Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond Double Mash do not publish an official mash bill.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 Special Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond Double Mash
Very good. Flavorful without being too powerful.
Flavor Profile
W.L. Weller Special Reserve Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond Double Mash
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 2/5 spice: W.L. Weller Special Reserve 2 out of 10, Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond Double Mash 5 out of 10
oak 4/7 oak: W.L. Weller Special Reserve 4 out of 10, Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond Double Mash 7 out of 10
nuttiness 3/6 nuttiness: W.L. Weller Special Reserve 3 out of 10, Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond Double Mash 6 out of 10
heat 3/5 heat: W.L. Weller Special Reserve 3 out of 10, Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond Double Mash 5 out of 10
sweetness 7/7 sweetness: W.L. Weller Special Reserve 7 out of 10, Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond Double Mash 7 out of 10
fruit 5/5 fruit: W.L. Weller Special Reserve 5 out of 10, Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond Double Mash 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Rye spice is the dividing line here.
- 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.
- Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond Double Mash: Nine-year Heaven Hill in two flavors at once: the classic rye recipe brings structure and nutty oak, while a third of wheated bourbon rounds off the edges. It drinks fuller and softer than the standard bonded bottle.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with W.L. Weller Special Reserve if you want the softest, sweetest, most approachable wheated pour of the group at a slightly lower price point.
- Go with Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond Double Mash if you want a well-aged bonded bourbon that blends Heaven Hill's rye and wheat recipes into one balanced pour with more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, highball (W.L. Weller Special Reserve); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond Double Mash).