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Four Roses Single Barrel vs W.L. Weller Special Reserve
Put Four Roses Single Barrel next to W.L. Weller Special Reserve 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 Special Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 60% corn, 35% rye, 5% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) +10 proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$45 – $55 | ~$30 – $60 ~$5 less |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Allocated |
- W.L. Weller Special 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 Single Barrel
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
W.L. Weller Special Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Four Roses Single Barrel W.L. Weller Special Reserve
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 8/2 spice: Four Roses Single Barrel 8 out of 10, W.L. Weller Special Reserve 2 out of 10
heat 6/3 heat: Four Roses Single Barrel 6 out of 10, W.L. Weller Special Reserve 3 out of 10
oak 6/4 oak: Four Roses Single Barrel 6 out of 10, W.L. Weller Special Reserve 4 out of 10
fruit 7/5 fruit: Four Roses Single Barrel 7 out of 10, W.L. Weller Special Reserve 5 out of 10
sweetness 6/7 sweetness: Four Roses Single Barrel 6 out of 10, W.L. Weller Special Reserve 7 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Four Roses Single Barrel 3 out of 10, W.L. Weller Special Reserve 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The gap between these two is mostly about spice.
- 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 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 Four Roses Single Barrel if you want the most expressive, spice-and-fruit-forward single recipe in the Four Roses range with more proof behind it.
- Go with W.L. Weller Special Reserve if you want the softest, sweetest, most approachable wheated pour of the group at a slightly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Four Roses Single Barrel); neat, rocks, highball (W.L. Weller Special Reserve).