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W.L. Weller Special Reserve vs Willett Pot Still Reserve
W.L. Weller Special Reserve and Willett Pot Still Reserve sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, wheat-forward classic versus a new-wave, classically built craft style.
Key Specifications
| Feature | W.L. Weller Special Reserve | Willett Pot Still Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) | 94 proof (47% ABV) +4 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$30 – $60 ~$8 less | ~$45 – $60 |
| Availability | Allocated | Widely available easier to find |
- W.L. Weller Special Reserve and Willett Pot Still Reserve do not publish an official mash bill.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.
Willett Pot Still Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
W.L. Weller Special Reserve Willett Pot Still Reserve
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 2/5 spice: W.L. Weller Special Reserve 2 out of 10, Willett Pot Still Reserve 5 out of 10
oak 4/6 oak: W.L. Weller Special Reserve 4 out of 10, Willett Pot Still Reserve 6 out of 10
fruit 5/6 fruit: W.L. Weller Special Reserve 5 out of 10, Willett Pot Still Reserve 6 out of 10
heat 3/4 heat: W.L. Weller Special Reserve 3 out of 10, Willett Pot Still Reserve 4 out of 10
nuttiness 3/4 nuttiness: W.L. Weller Special Reserve 3 out of 10, Willett Pot Still Reserve 4 out of 10
sweetness 7/7 sweetness: W.L. Weller Special Reserve 7 out of 10, Willett Pot Still Reserve 7 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.
- Willett Pot Still Reserve: Famous first for the pot-still-shaped decanter and second for the whiskey, which is a fair ordering. Pleasant, sweet and fruit-leaning, with a good deal of the price attached to the glass.
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 Willett Pot Still Reserve if you want a distinctive bottle on the shelf and an easy, fruit-forward pour inside it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, highball (W.L. Weller Special Reserve); neat, rocks (Willett Pot Still Reserve).