Compare
1792 Small Batch vs W.L. Weller Special Reserve
1792 Small Batch 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 | 1792 Small Batch | W.L. Weller Special Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 93.7 proof (46.9% ABV) +4 proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$26 – $34 ~$15 less | ~$30 – $60 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Allocated |
- 1792 Small Batch and W.L. Weller Special Reserve do not publish an official mash bill.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 Special Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
1792 Small Batch W.L. Weller Special Reserve
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 7/2 spice: 1792 Small Batch 7 out of 10, W.L. Weller Special Reserve 2 out of 10
oak 6/4 oak: 1792 Small Batch 6 out of 10, W.L. Weller Special Reserve 4 out of 10
heat 5/3 heat: 1792 Small Batch 5 out of 10, W.L. Weller Special Reserve 3 out of 10
sweetness 6/7 sweetness: 1792 Small Batch 6 out of 10, W.L. Weller Special Reserve 7 out of 10
nuttiness 4/3 nuttiness: 1792 Small Batch 4 out of 10, W.L. Weller Special Reserve 3 out of 10
fruit 5/5 fruit: 1792 Small Batch 5 out of 10, W.L. Weller Special Reserve 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Rye spice is the dividing line here.
- 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 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 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 Special Reserve if you want the softest, sweetest, most approachable wheated pour of the group.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned (1792 Small Batch); neat, rocks, highball (W.L. Weller Special Reserve).