Compare
W.L. Weller Special Reserve vs Old Forester 1870 Original Batch
W.L. Weller Special Reserve and Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 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 Special Reserve | Old Forester 1870 Original Batch |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 90 proof (45% ABV) | 90 proof (45% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$30 – $60 ~$5 less | ~$45 – $55 |
| 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.
Old Forester 1870 Original Batch
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
W.L. Weller Special Reserve Old Forester 1870 Original Batch
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 2/4 spice: W.L. Weller Special Reserve 2 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 4 out of 10
oak 4/5 oak: W.L. Weller Special Reserve 4 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 5 out of 10
fruit 5/6 fruit: W.L. Weller Special Reserve 5 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/2 nuttiness: W.L. Weller Special Reserve 3 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 2 out of 10
sweetness 7/7 sweetness: W.L. Weller Special Reserve 7 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 7 out of 10
heat 3/3 heat: W.L. Weller Special Reserve 3 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The gap between these two is mostly about spice.
- 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.
- Old Forester 1870 Original Batch: The first bottle in Old Forester's Whiskey Row Series, recreating the founder's habit of blending barrels from three warehouses. It is the lightest of the series, caramel sweet and easy.
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 Old Forester 1870 Original Batch if you want the gentlest, most easygoing pour in the Whiskey Row Series without hunting for it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, highball (W.L. Weller Special Reserve); neat, rocks, highball (Old Forester 1870 Original Batch).