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1792 Small Batch vs Willett Pot Still Reserve
1792 Small Batch and Willett Pot Still Reserve sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, rye-forward classic versus a new-wave, classically built craft style.
Key Specifications
| Feature | 1792 Small Batch | Willett Pot Still Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 93.7 proof (46.9% ABV) | 94 proof (47% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$26 – $34 ~$23 less | ~$45 – $60 |
- 1792 Small Batch and Willett Pot Still Reserve do not publish an official mash bill.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.
Willett Pot Still Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
1792 Small Batch Willett Pot Still Reserve
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 7/5 spice: 1792 Small Batch 7 out of 10, Willett Pot Still Reserve 5 out of 10
sweetness 6/7 sweetness: 1792 Small Batch 6 out of 10, Willett Pot Still Reserve 7 out of 10
fruit 5/6 fruit: 1792 Small Batch 5 out of 10, Willett Pot Still Reserve 6 out of 10
heat 5/4 heat: 1792 Small Batch 5 out of 10, Willett Pot Still Reserve 4 out of 10
oak 6/6 oak: 1792 Small Batch 6 out of 10, Willett Pot Still Reserve 6 out of 10
nuttiness 4/4 nuttiness: 1792 Small Batch 4 out of 10, Willett Pot Still Reserve 4 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.
- Willett Pot Still Reserve: Famous first for the pot-still-shaped decanter and second for the whiskey, which is a fair ordering. Pleasant, sweet and fruit-leaning, with a good deal of the price attached to the glass.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with 1792 Small Batch if you want an overlooked, spice-forward Kentucky bourbon that punches above its price.
- Go with Willett Pot Still Reserve if you want a distinctive bottle on the shelf and an easy, fruit-forward pour inside it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned (1792 Small Batch); neat, rocks (Willett Pot Still Reserve).