Weller 12 vs Antique 107 vs Full Proof: Which Weller Should You Buy?
Weller is the bourbon our owner drinks most, and Weller 12 is the bottle we sell the most of in the whole lineup. So when customers ask whether they should get Weller 12, Antique 107 or Full Proof, he has a real answer, not a spec sheet.
"I say the same thing about every liquor: it depends on what you like. But if you want my take, Antique 107 is my favorite. Weller 12 is phenomenal and very smooth. And Full Proof is the one with the real kick."
The short version
New to bourbon, or want the smoothest: Weller 12 Year
Our owner's everyday pour: Weller Antique 107
You want the most kick: Weller Full Proof
Under $50: Weller Special Reserve
Something special to open: Weller C.Y.P.B. or Weller Single Barrel
What makes Weller different: it's a wheated bourbon
Most bourbon uses rye as its second grain. Weller uses wheat instead, which makes it softer and a little sweeter. It's made at Buffalo Trace Distillery in Kentucky with the same wheated recipe as Pappy Van Winkle, which is a big part of why Weller is so hard to find. The bottles below are all the same family. The main differences are age and proof (how strong it is when it's bottled).
Weller 12 vs Antique 107 vs Full Proof vs Special Reserve at a glance
| Special Reserve | Weller 12 | Antique 107 | Full Proof | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proof | 90 | 90 | 107 | 114 |
| Age | No age stated | 12 years | No age stated | No age stated |
| Taste | Soft and easy | Very smooth | Bolder, a little harsher | The most kick |
| Best for | Trying Weller for less | New drinkers and gifts | An everyday sipper | High-proof fans |
| Our price | $49.98 | $129.99 | $99.49 | $114.94 |
Weller 12 Year
$129.99 · 90 proof · 12 years old
"Weller 12 is very, very phenomenal. It's very smooth, a little less harsh than the Antique. Customers call it Baby Pappy, and that's why a lot of people want it."
Twelve years in the barrel gives it a softer, rounder taste than the younger Wellers. It's the one our owner hands to someone new to bourbon, even though it costs a little more than $100. It's also our best-selling Weller by a wide margin: 365 orders since last October.
Shop Weller 12
Weller Antique 107
$99.49 · 107 proof
"Antique is my favorite, just because it's a little bit harsher than the 12. If I want an everyday drinker, I'm going for the 107. I drink it neat."
More proof means more flavor and more warmth than Weller 12, while it still has that soft wheated finish. A lot of customers have bought it on our owner's word alone.
Shop Weller Antique 107
Weller Full Proof
$114.94 · 114 proof
"Full Proof is definitely the most harsh out of all of them. I enjoy that one too. If I want something that day that gives me a little more kick, I'm pouring the Full Proof."
It's bottled at the same proof it went into the barrel, with no water added, so it's the strongest of the four. Our owner drinks it neat.
Shop Weller Full Proof
Weller Special Reserve
$49.98 · 90 proof
"Special Reserve is a very good one too, and it's the cheapest. At about $50, it's a great choice if you don't want to spend too much."
The easiest way to find out if you like wheated bourbon before stepping up to 107 or 12.
Shop Weller Special ReserveWeller 12 vs Antique 107: which should you buy?
This is the question we get most. Both are excellent. The difference is smooth versus bold:
Get Weller 12 if you like a smooth, easy sip, you're newer to bourbon, or you're buying a gift and don't know their taste. It's older and lower proof.
Get Antique 107 if you like more flavor and a little more bite, or you want a bottle to open every day. It's higher proof and costs less.
Can't pick? Our Weller Special Reserve, Antique 107 and 12 bundle ($314.99) lets you taste them side by side.
Antique 107 vs Full Proof
Same idea, one step stronger. Antique 107 is the everyday bottle. Full Proof, at 114 proof, is the one our owner pours when he wants more kick. If you already love 107 and want something bolder, Full Proof is the next bottle to try.
Is Weller 12 really "Baby Pappy"?
That's what a lot of our customers call it. Weller and Pappy Van Winkle are both wheated bourbons made at Buffalo Trace, so they share a family resemblance in taste. Pappy is older and far harder to find. Weller 12 is the closest most people can get without paying Pappy prices.
You may have also heard of "poor man's Pappy," where people mix Antique 107 and Weller 12 together. Our owner is honest about it:
"I've never mixed them myself, so I can't promise anything. Get both bottles and try it out. But if you want the real poor man's Pappy, it's Weller 12."
The rarer Wellers: C.Y.P.B. and Single Barrel
"I've tried both. I like the C.Y.P.B. first, then the Single Barrel, but honestly, they're all insanely great. People do collect them, but not just to leave them on the bar. These are bottles people actually drink."
Weller C.Y.P.B.$289.99 · 95 proof, a recipe picked by Weller fans
Weller Single Barrel$259.99 · 97 proof, each bottle from one barrel
What Weller fans actually buy from us
Weller 12 is the bottle people hunt for. Our owner gets calls from customers searching for it, and one caller wanted six at once (we sell a Weller 12 six-pack for exactly that). Another customer bought every bottle in the Weller lineup in one go.
"Weller 12 is our top seller because our pricing is really good. We have great pricing on all of our Wellers."
Weller also makes a great pairing in a gift bundle:
Special Reserve + Antique 107$154.99 · taste 90 vs 107 proof
Special Reserve + 107 + Weller 12$314.99 · the core Weller trio
Blanton's + Weller 12$249.99 · two of our top sellers together
Eagle Rare 10 + Weller 12$194.99 · two smooth Buffalo Trace classics
See every Weller we carry in our W.L. Weller collection. Shopping for a gift? Read our owner's bourbon gift guide, or see which Blanton's to buy.
Weller questions
Which Weller is the best?
It depends on your taste. Weller 12 is the smoothest and our best seller. Antique 107 is our owner's favorite for everyday sipping. Full Proof has the most kick.
Is Weller 12 better than Antique 107?
Not better, just different. Weller 12 is older, smoother and 90 proof. Antique 107 is bolder at 107 proof and costs less.
Is Weller 12 the same as Pappy Van Winkle?
No, but they're both wheated bourbons from Buffalo Trace, which is why customers call Weller 12 "Baby Pappy." Pappy is older and much rarer.
What proof is Weller Full Proof?
114 proof. It's bottled at the same proof it entered the barrel, with no water added.
Which Weller should a beginner buy?
Weller 12. It's the smoothest of the lineup. If you'd like to spend less, Special Reserve is a great first Weller at about $50.
Written by the Liquor Royale team. We're a family-owned liquor store in Chula Vista, San Diego, open for more than 20 years. Our owner took over from his father and started our online shop so people across the country could get rare and allocated bottles. We ship to every state except Michigan. Questions about a bottle? Text us at (619) 735-6422.
Prices checked October 2026. Please enjoy responsibly. Must be 21 or older to purchase.