Compare
W.L. Weller Special Reserve vs Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style
Comparing W.L. Weller Special Reserve and Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style reveals a matchup between a traditional, wheated Kentucky staple and a traditional, spice-driven Kentucky staple.
Key Specifications
| Feature | W.L. Weller Special Reserve | Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style |
|---|---|---|
| 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) | 115 proof (57.5% ABV) +25 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$30 – $60 ~$18 less | ~$55 – $70 |
| 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 1920 Prohibition Style
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
W.L. Weller Special Reserve Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 2/7 spice: W.L. Weller Special Reserve 2 out of 10, Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 7 out of 10
heat 3/7 heat: W.L. Weller Special Reserve 3 out of 10, Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 7 out of 10
oak 4/7 oak: W.L. Weller Special Reserve 4 out of 10, Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 7 out of 10
sweetness 7/8 sweetness: W.L. Weller Special Reserve 7 out of 10, Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 8 out of 10
fruit 5/5 fruit: W.L. Weller Special Reserve 5 out of 10, Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: W.L. Weller Special Reserve 3 out of 10, Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 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 1920 Prohibition Style: Dense and syrupy for its age, with molasses and dark chocolate carrying a serious 115-proof punch. The high rye reads as baking spice rather than sharpness, and the body is unusually thick.
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 lower price point.
- Go with Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style if you want a rich, high-proof, dessert-leaning bourbon with real weight in the glass without hunting for it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, highball (W.L. Weller Special Reserve); neat, old-fashioned (Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style).