Compare
W.L. Weller Special Reserve vs Wild Turkey 81
W.L. Weller Special Reserve and Wild Turkey 81 sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, wheat-forward classic versus an old-guard, classically built classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | W.L. Weller Special Reserve | Wild Turkey 81 |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon | Traditional 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) +9 proof | 81 proof (40.5% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$30 – $60 | ~$20 – $25 ~$23 less |
| Availability | Allocated | Widely available easier to find |
- W.L. Weller Special Reserve and Wild Turkey 81 do not publish an official mash bill.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 81
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
W.L. Weller Special Reserve Wild Turkey 81
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 2/4 spice: W.L. Weller Special Reserve 2 out of 10, Wild Turkey 81 4 out of 10
fruit 5/3 fruit: W.L. Weller Special Reserve 5 out of 10, Wild Turkey 81 3 out of 10
sweetness 7/6 sweetness: W.L. Weller Special Reserve 7 out of 10, Wild Turkey 81 6 out of 10
heat 3/2 heat: W.L. Weller Special Reserve 3 out of 10, Wild Turkey 81 2 out of 10
nuttiness 3/2 nuttiness: W.L. Weller Special Reserve 3 out of 10, Wild Turkey 81 2 out of 10
oak 4/4 oak: W.L. Weller Special Reserve 4 out of 10, Wild Turkey 81 4 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.
- Wild Turkey 81: The same mash bill and No. 4 char as Wild Turkey 101, cut to 81 proof. Honey and toffee come through clearly, but the body and spice are much lighter.
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 with slightly more proof behind it.
- Go with Wild Turkey 81 if you want a lighter Wild Turkey built for mixing at a lower price point and without hunting for it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, highball (W.L. Weller Special Reserve); highball, cocktails (Wild Turkey 81).