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Four Roses Small Batch Select vs W.L. Weller Special Reserve
Comparing Four Roses Small Batch Select and W.L. Weller Special Reserve reveals a matchup between a traditional, spice-driven Kentucky staple and a traditional, wheated Kentucky staple.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Four Roses Small Batch Select | 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 | 6 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 104 proof (52% ABV) +14 proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$55 – $65 | ~$30 – $60 ~$15 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 Small Batch Select
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
W.L. Weller Special Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Four Roses Small Batch Select W.L. Weller Special Reserve
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 7/2 spice: Four Roses Small Batch Select 7 out of 10, W.L. Weller Special Reserve 2 out of 10
fruit 8/5 fruit: Four Roses Small Batch Select 8 out of 10, W.L. Weller Special Reserve 5 out of 10
heat 6/3 heat: Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10, W.L. Weller Special Reserve 3 out of 10
oak 6/4 oak: Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10, W.L. Weller Special Reserve 4 out of 10
sweetness 6/7 sweetness: Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10, W.L. Weller Special Reserve 7 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Four Roses Small Batch Select 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 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 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 Small Batch Select if you want the fullest expression of the Four Roses fruit-forward style without chasing an allocated bottle 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 lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Four Roses Small Batch Select); neat, rocks, highball (W.L. Weller Special Reserve).