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W.L. Weller Special Reserve vs Maker’s Mark 46
W.L. Weller Special Reserve and Maker’s Mark 46 are cut from similar cloth: two takes on wheated bourbons, where the real difference is proof (90 vs. 94).
Key Specifications
| Feature | W.L. Weller Special Reserve | Maker’s Mark 46 |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | 70% corn, 16% wheat, 14% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) | 94 proof (47% ABV) +4 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$30 – $60 | ~$38 – $45 |
| Availability | Allocated | Widely available easier to find |
- W.L. Weller Special Reserve 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 Special Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Maker’s Mark 46
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
W.L. Weller Special Reserve Maker’s Mark 46
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 4/7 oak: W.L. Weller Special Reserve 4 out of 10, Maker’s Mark 46 7 out of 10
spice 2/4 spice: W.L. Weller Special Reserve 2 out of 10, Maker’s Mark 46 4 out of 10
sweetness 7/8 sweetness: W.L. Weller Special Reserve 7 out of 10, Maker’s Mark 46 8 out of 10
fruit 5/4 fruit: W.L. Weller Special Reserve 5 out of 10, Maker’s Mark 46 4 out of 10
heat 3/4 heat: W.L. Weller Special Reserve 3 out of 10, Maker’s Mark 46 4 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: W.L. Weller Special Reserve 3 out of 10, Maker’s Mark 46 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Oak is doing most of the differentiating 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.
- Maker’s Mark 46: Finished with seared French oak staves inside the barrel, which adds the spice and wood that the standard bottling deliberately lacks. The most useful upgrade in the Maker's range.
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.
- Go with Maker’s Mark 46 if you want the softness of Maker's Mark with real oak and spice layered over it without hunting for it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, highball (W.L. Weller Special Reserve); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Maker’s Mark 46).