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1792 Small Batch vs W.L. Weller 12 Year
1792 Small Batch and W.L. Weller 12 Year sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, rye-forward classic versus an old-guard, wheat-forward classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | 1792 Small Batch | W.L. Weller 12 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Age | No age statement | 12 years |
| Proof | 93.7 proof (46.9% ABV) +4 proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$26 – $34 ~$95 less | ~$70 – $180 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Allocated |
- 1792 Small Batch and W.L. Weller 12 Year do not publish an official mash bill.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
1792 Small Batch
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
W.L. Weller 12 Year
No notes yet.
Flavor Profile
1792 Small Batch W.L. Weller 12 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 7/2 spice: 1792 Small Batch 7 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 2 out of 10
sweetness 6/8 sweetness: 1792 Small Batch 6 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 8 out of 10
heat 5/3 heat: 1792 Small Batch 5 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 3 out of 10
oak 6/7 oak: 1792 Small Batch 6 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 7 out of 10
fruit 5/6 fruit: 1792 Small Batch 5 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 6 out of 10
nuttiness 4/3 nuttiness: 1792 Small Batch 4 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The gap between these two is mostly about spice.
- 1792 Small Batch: Barton's flagship and one of the most under-discussed bottles at its price. A high-rye character with cocoa and orange peel, and considerably more going on than the shelf position suggests.
- 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 1792 Small Batch if you want an overlooked, spice-forward Kentucky bourbon that punches above its price 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 (1792 Small Batch); neat (W.L. Weller 12 Year).