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Four Roses Single Barrel vs W.L. Weller 12 Year
Put Four Roses Single Barrel next to W.L. Weller 12 Year and you have a classic, high-rye stalwart set against a classic, high-wheat stalwart.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Four Roses Single Barrel | W.L. Weller 12 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 60% corn, 35% rye, 5% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | No age statement | 12 years |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) +10 proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$45 – $55 ~$75 less | ~$70 – $180 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Allocated |
- W.L. Weller 12 Year 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 Single Barrel
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
W.L. Weller 12 Year
No notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Four Roses Single Barrel W.L. Weller 12 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 8/2 spice: Four Roses Single Barrel 8 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 2 out of 10
heat 6/3 heat: Four Roses Single Barrel 6 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 3 out of 10
sweetness 6/8 sweetness: Four Roses Single Barrel 6 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 8 out of 10
oak 6/7 oak: Four Roses Single Barrel 6 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 7 out of 10
fruit 7/6 fruit: Four Roses Single Barrel 7 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Four Roses Single Barrel 3 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Rye spice is the dividing line here.
- Four Roses Single Barrel: The OBSV recipe on its own at 100 proof — the highest-rye mash Four Roses uses, paired with their most floral yeast. Cherry and clove in equal measure, and a genuinely distinctive glass.
- 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 Four Roses Single Barrel if you want the most expressive, spice-and-fruit-forward single recipe in the Four Roses range at a significantly lower price point.
- 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, old-fashioned (Four Roses Single Barrel); neat (W.L. Weller 12 Year).