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Wild Turkey 101 vs W.L. Weller Special Reserve
Wild Turkey 101 and W.L. Weller Special Reserve sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, rye-forward classic versus an old-guard, wheat-forward classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Wild Turkey 101 | W.L. Weller Special Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 101 proof (50.5% ABV) +11 proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$25 – $30 ~$18 less | ~$30 – $60 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Allocated |
- 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
Wild Turkey 101
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
W.L. Weller Special Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Wild Turkey 101 W.L. Weller Special Reserve
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 8/2 spice: Wild Turkey 101 8 out of 10, W.L. Weller Special Reserve 2 out of 10
oak 7/4 oak: Wild Turkey 101 7 out of 10, W.L. Weller Special Reserve 4 out of 10
heat 6/3 heat: Wild Turkey 101 6 out of 10, W.L. Weller Special Reserve 3 out of 10
sweetness 6/7 sweetness: Wild Turkey 101 6 out of 10, W.L. Weller Special Reserve 7 out of 10
fruit 4/5 fruit: Wild Turkey 101 4 out of 10, W.L. Weller Special Reserve 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Wild Turkey 101 3 out of 10, W.L. Weller Special Reserve 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Rye spice is the dividing line here.
- 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 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.
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 Special Reserve if you want the softest, sweetest, most approachable wheated pour of the group.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Wild Turkey 101); neat, rocks, highball (W.L. Weller Special Reserve).