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Wild Turkey 101 vs W.L. Weller 12 Year
Put Wild Turkey 101 next to W.L. Weller 12 Year and you have a classic, high-rye stalwart set against a classic, high-wheat stalwart.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Wild Turkey 101 | W.L. Weller 12 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | No age statement | 12 years |
| Proof | 101 proof (50.5% ABV) +11 proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$25 – $30 ~$98 less | ~$70 – $180 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Allocated |
- W.L. Weller 12 Year 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
Wild Turkey 101
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
W.L. Weller 12 Year
No notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Wild Turkey 101 W.L. Weller 12 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 8/2 spice: Wild Turkey 101 8 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 2 out of 10
heat 6/3 heat: Wild Turkey 101 6 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 3 out of 10
sweetness 6/8 sweetness: Wild Turkey 101 6 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 8 out of 10
fruit 4/6 fruit: Wild Turkey 101 4 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 6 out of 10
oak 7/7 oak: Wild Turkey 101 7 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 7 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Wild Turkey 101 3 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The gap between these two is mostly about spice.
- 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.
- W.L. Weller 12 Year: Twelve years on a wheated mash at a modest 90 proof, which is the combination that made this bottle famous. Deep caramel and baked fruit with polished rather than aggressive oak — the closest widely-discussed analogue to the Pappy profile.
Which One Should You Choose?
- 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.
- Go with W.L. Weller 12 Year if you want age and elegance on a wheated mash, and you are willing to chase it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Wild Turkey 101); neat (W.L. Weller 12 Year).