Compare
W.L. Weller Special Reserve vs Penelope Toasted Series
Put W.L. Weller Special Reserve next to Penelope Toasted Series and you have a classic, high-wheat stalwart set against a blender-built, high-rye bottling.
Key Specifications
| Feature | W.L. Weller Special Reserve | Penelope Toasted Series |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | 75% corn, 21% rye, 4% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) +10 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.
Penelope Toasted Series
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
W.L. Weller Special Reserve Penelope Toasted Series
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 2/5 spice: W.L. Weller Special Reserve 2 out of 10, Penelope Toasted Series 5 out of 10
oak 4/7 oak: W.L. Weller Special Reserve 4 out of 10, Penelope Toasted Series 7 out of 10
heat 3/5 heat: W.L. Weller Special Reserve 3 out of 10, Penelope Toasted Series 5 out of 10
fruit 5/4 fruit: W.L. Weller Special Reserve 5 out of 10, Penelope Toasted Series 4 out of 10
sweetness 7/7 sweetness: W.L. Weller Special Reserve 7 out of 10, Penelope Toasted Series 7 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: W.L. Weller Special Reserve 3 out of 10, Penelope Toasted Series 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.
- Penelope Toasted Series: Finished in a second, freshly toasted barrel, which pushes it toward toffee, roasted coffee and darker oak. The toast level changes from batch to batch.
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 Penelope Toasted Series if you want a toasty, coffee-and-toffee bourbon from a second-barrel finish with more proof behind it and without hunting for it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, highball (W.L. Weller Special Reserve); neat, old-fashioned (Penelope Toasted Series).