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Wild Turkey Rare Breed vs W.L. Weller 12 Year
Comparing Wild Turkey Rare Breed and W.L. Weller 12 Year reveals a matchup between an uncut, spice-driven heavyweight and a traditional, wheated Kentucky staple.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Wild Turkey Rare Breed | W.L. Weller 12 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon, Barrel Proof | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | No age statement | 12 years |
| Proof | 116 proof (58% ABV) +26 proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$45 – $55 ~$75 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 Rare Breed
Good flavor.
W.L. Weller 12 Year
No notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Wild Turkey Rare Breed W.L. Weller 12 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 8/2 spice: Wild Turkey Rare Breed 8 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 2 out of 10
heat 8/3 heat: Wild Turkey Rare Breed 8 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 3 out of 10
sweetness 6/8 sweetness: Wild Turkey Rare Breed 6 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 8 out of 10
fruit 4/6 fruit: Wild Turkey Rare Breed 4 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 6 out of 10
oak 8/7 oak: Wild Turkey Rare Breed 8 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 7 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Wild Turkey Rare Breed 3 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Rye spice is the dividing line here.
- Wild Turkey Rare Breed: Barrel-proof Wild Turkey at a price that still looks like a mistake. Everything the 101 does with considerably more force, and one of the most consistently praised bottles in its category.
- 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 Rare Breed if you want barrel-proof spice and oak with a reputation to match, at half what comparable bottles cost 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, old-fashioned (Wild Turkey Rare Breed); neat (W.L. Weller 12 Year).