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Four Roses Small Batch Select vs W.L. Weller 12 Year
Put Four Roses Small Batch Select 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 Small Batch Select | 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 | 6 years | 12 years +6 yr |
| Proof | 104 proof (52% ABV) +14 proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$55 – $65 ~$65 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 Small Batch Select
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
W.L. Weller 12 Year
No notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Four Roses Small Batch Select W.L. Weller 12 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 7/2 spice: Four Roses Small Batch Select 7 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 2 out of 10
heat 6/3 heat: Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 3 out of 10
sweetness 6/8 sweetness: Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 8 out of 10
fruit 8/6 fruit: Four Roses Small Batch Select 8 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 6 out of 10
oak 6/7 oak: Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 7 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Four Roses Small Batch Select 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 Small Batch Select: Six recipes, non-chill-filtered, at 104 proof, and the most complete thing Four Roses makes at a normal price. The house fruit character with enough proof and texture to carry it.
- 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 Small Batch Select if you want the fullest expression of the Four Roses fruit-forward style without chasing an allocated bottle 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, rocks (Four Roses Small Batch Select); neat (W.L. Weller 12 Year).