Compare
Four Roses Small Batch vs W.L. Weller 12 Year
Put Four Roses Small Batch 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 | W.L. Weller 12 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 20% rye, 5% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | No age statement | 12 years |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) | 90 proof (45% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$32 – $38 ~$90 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
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
W.L. Weller 12 Year
No notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Four Roses Small Batch W.L. Weller 12 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 6/2 spice: Four Roses Small Batch 6 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 2 out of 10
sweetness 6/8 sweetness: Four Roses Small Batch 6 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 8 out of 10
oak 5/7 oak: Four Roses Small Batch 5 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 7 out of 10
fruit 7/6 fruit: Four Roses Small Batch 7 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 6 out of 10
heat 4/3 heat: Four Roses Small Batch 4 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 3 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Four Roses Small Batch 3 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The gap between these two is mostly about spice.
- Four Roses Small Batch: Four Roses' yeast strains push this toward fruit and florals rather than wood. Red berry and cinnamon over a light body, with the rye showing up as brightness instead of bite.
- 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 if you want a fruit-and-floral profile that stands apart from the usual caramel-and-oak template 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, cocktails (Four Roses Small Batch); neat (W.L. Weller 12 Year).