Weller 12 Year vs Michter's American Whiskey Comparison
Weller 12 Year vs Michter's American Whiskey
by: ALEX WANG
Founder, writer
Founder, writer
I have a hunch about these two bourbons
A lot of people want Weller 12 Year, that part is obvious. Part of the problem is that no matter how you split it, 12 years is a long time and you can’t rush it…it takes 12 years to age. So if you didn’t put down enough barrels at least 12 years ago, you’re going to be short on the older stuff. And while there is Knob Creek 12 Year that’s a lot easier to find, Knob Creek just isn’t a sexy brand.
So if you’re like most people (including me), Weller 12 Year isn’t easy to find. Maybe you’ve just moved on to other things, and maybe you’re looking for a close enough alternative.
I’m doing this comparison because after reviewing Michter’s American Whiskey, I had a hunch that the two were similar. The dark oak and chocolate felt eerily similar…from memory at least. I’m not even sure if anyone’s ever made that connection before, but here we are.
On paper, this comparison doesn’t make much sense. Michter’s American Whiskey doesn’t have an age statement, and it’s not even bourbon. Michter’s likely still has corn and barley, but I have no idea if there’s wheat in there too.
Right or wrong, I want to find out if Michter’s American Whiskey turns out to be a good / acceptable Weller 12 year alternative in this Weller 12 vs Michter’s American Whiskey comparison.
The table below outlines the two whiskeys.
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How do they compare?
I’ve unfortunately lost some Glencairn’s while in transit, and that made me very sad. So, I wised up and bought this Glencairn Travel Case that comes also comes with 2 glasses so I don’t need to worry so much about them breaking. I think it’s great, and I think you’ll love it too.
Seriously, if you already have glasses, protect them.
And the winner is...
I have a couple takeaways from this comparison. First off, Weller 12 Year and Michter’s American Whiskey have fairly similar mature, dark, oak-forward, and chocolatey profiles – so I was mostly right about that. Second, Weller 12 Year is still noticeably better. I’ll openly admit that because that’s what I experienced and I’m going to be honest about it.
Weller 12 Year wins out because it’s more round, rich, expressive, fruity, and interesting. Out of everything, the fruitiness and roundness are the 2 most noticeable differences, and it becomes more pronounced when going back to Michter’s.
Don’t get me wrong, Weller 12 isn’t a powerhouse by any means, but it makes me strongly wish that Michter’s had picked a higher ABV because it’s still really nice on its own, but it doesn’t hold up as well in comparison and starts to feel obviously thin and light. 41.7% ABV…why?
So even though Weller wins (yawn), this is still a worthwhile comparison for me. Here’s the thing, finding a comparable Weller 12 Year substitute is so difficult because it has such a unique dark, woody, and chocolate-y profile…which is rare for bourbon and even more rare for wheated bourbon. From my experience, wheated bourbons are usually more oak, clove, cinnamon, and orange-forward, which Weller 12 Year is not. Weller Antique has the usual wheated bourbon profile.
That dark and mature oak and chocolate-forward personality is usually reserved to 13+ year old rye’d bourbons that are $150+ such as Russell’s 13 Year and Michter’s 10 Year Single Barrel. Even the 11-12 year old Maker’s Mark Cellar Aged doesn’t have that level of dark oak and chocolate.
Nonetheless, I’m still shocked that Michter’s American Whiskey, for $40-50, offers a similar enough dark, mature, and expensive experience. Props to Michter’s for crafting this, even though I picked Weller 12 Year as the clear winner.
So…is Michter’s American Whiskey a good Weller 12 Year alternative? I’d say around 75% yes, which isn’t too far off. To be fair though, I don’t think that there are any better and obtainable alternatives with a similar profile for around $50…so I still think that Michter’s American Whiskey is the best you can do, although it is far from perfect. Knob Creek 12 Year might be another option, but I haven’t done that comparison yet.
I don’t know about you, but I think that’s a helpful recommendation for the many people who struggle to get Weller 12 Year.
Meet the Author: Alex
I have far too much fun writing about whiskey and singlehandedly running The Whiskey Shelf to bring you independent, honest, and useful reviews, comparisons, and more. I’m proudly Asian American and can speak Cantonese, Mandarin, and some Japanese.
There are no sponsors, no media companies, and no nonsense. Support The Whiskey Shelf by Buying Me A Shot.
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BrüMate NOS’R, Double-Wall Stainless Steel Whiskey Nosing Glass – 7oz (Matte Black)
