Compare
W.L. Weller Special Reserve vs Wild Turkey 101
W.L. Weller Special Reserve and Wild Turkey 101 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 | Wild Turkey 101 |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) | 101 proof (50.5% ABV) +11 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$30 – $60 | ~$25 – $30 ~$18 less |
| 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.
Wild Turkey 101
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
W.L. Weller Special Reserve Wild Turkey 101
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 2/8 spice: W.L. Weller Special Reserve 2 out of 10, Wild Turkey 101 8 out of 10
oak 4/7 oak: W.L. Weller Special Reserve 4 out of 10, Wild Turkey 101 7 out of 10
heat 3/6 heat: W.L. Weller Special Reserve 3 out of 10, Wild Turkey 101 6 out of 10
sweetness 7/6 sweetness: W.L. Weller Special Reserve 7 out of 10, Wild Turkey 101 6 out of 10
fruit 5/4 fruit: W.L. Weller Special Reserve 5 out of 10, Wild Turkey 101 4 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: W.L. Weller Special Reserve 3 out of 10, Wild Turkey 101 3 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.
- Wild Turkey 101: The workhorse high-rye Kentucky bourbon and one of the best proof-to-price ratios anywhere. Vanilla and orange up front, then a genuinely spicy, peppery, tobacco-tinged middle that punches well above $25.
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 Wild Turkey 101 if you want bold rye spice and real proof at the lowest price of anything comparable without hunting for it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, highball (W.L. Weller Special Reserve); neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Wild Turkey 101).