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Four Roses Bourbon vs Willett Pot Still Reserve
Four Roses Bourbon 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 | Four Roses Bourbon | Willett Pot Still Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 20% rye, 5% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 80 proof (40% ABV) | 94 proof (47% ABV) +14 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$22 – $28 ~$28 less | ~$45 – $60 |
- Willett Pot Still Reserve does 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
Four Roses Bourbon
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Willett Pot Still Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Four Roses Bourbon Willett Pot Still Reserve
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 3/6 oak: Four Roses Bourbon 3 out of 10, Willett Pot Still Reserve 6 out of 10
heat 2/4 heat: Four Roses Bourbon 2 out of 10, Willett Pot Still Reserve 4 out of 10
sweetness 6/7 sweetness: Four Roses Bourbon 6 out of 10, Willett Pot Still Reserve 7 out of 10
nuttiness 3/4 nuttiness: Four Roses Bourbon 3 out of 10, Willett Pot Still Reserve 4 out of 10
spice 5/5 spice: Four Roses Bourbon 5 out of 10, Willett Pot Still Reserve 5 out of 10
fruit 6/6 fruit: Four Roses Bourbon 6 out of 10, Willett Pot Still Reserve 6 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Oak is doing most of the differentiating here.
- Four Roses Bourbon: The yellow label entry point, blending all ten Four Roses recipes at a gentle 80 proof. Light and fruity to a fault, but the house floral character is already recognisable and it mixes beautifully.
- 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 Four Roses Bourbon if you want the Four Roses fruit-and-floral signature at its lightest and cheapest.
- Go with Willett Pot Still Reserve if you want a distinctive bottle on the shelf and an easy, fruit-forward pour inside it with more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed cocktails, highball, rocks (Four Roses Bourbon); neat, rocks (Willett Pot Still Reserve).