Compare
Four Roses Small Batch vs W.L. Weller Special Reserve
Comparing Four Roses Small Batch 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 | W.L. Weller Special Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 20% rye, 5% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) | 90 proof (45% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$32 – $38 ~$10 less | ~$30 – $60 |
| 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
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
W.L. Weller Special Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Four Roses Small Batch W.L. Weller Special Reserve
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 6/2 spice: Four Roses Small Batch 6 out of 10, W.L. Weller Special Reserve 2 out of 10
fruit 7/5 fruit: Four Roses Small Batch 7 out of 10, W.L. Weller Special Reserve 5 out of 10
sweetness 6/7 sweetness: Four Roses Small Batch 6 out of 10, W.L. Weller Special Reserve 7 out of 10
oak 5/4 oak: Four Roses Small Batch 5 out of 10, W.L. Weller Special Reserve 4 out of 10
heat 4/3 heat: Four Roses Small Batch 4 out of 10, W.L. Weller Special Reserve 3 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Four Roses Small Batch 3 out of 10, W.L. Weller Special Reserve 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Rye spice is the dividing line here.
- 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 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 if you want a fruit-and-floral profile that stands apart from the usual caramel-and-oak template at a slightly lower price point.
- Go with W.L. Weller Special Reserve if you want the softest, sweetest, most approachable wheated pour of the group.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, cocktails (Four Roses Small Batch); neat, rocks, highball (W.L. Weller Special Reserve).