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Four Roses Small Batch vs Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year
Four Roses Small Batch and Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, rye-forward classic versus an undiluted barrel-strength pour.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Four Roses Small Batch | Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon, Barrel Proof |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 20% rye, 5% malted barley | 68% corn, 18% rye, 14% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 4 years |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) | 125.2 proof (62.6% ABV) +35 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$32 – $38 ~$35 less | ~$65 – $75 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Limited |
- Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 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.
Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Four Roses Small Batch Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 4/9 heat: Four Roses Small Batch 4 out of 10, Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year 9 out of 10
sweetness 6/7 sweetness: Four Roses Small Batch 6 out of 10, Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year 7 out of 10
oak 5/4 oak: Four Roses Small Batch 5 out of 10, Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year 4 out of 10
fruit 7/6 fruit: Four Roses Small Batch 7 out of 10, Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year 6 out of 10
spice 6/6 spice: Four Roses Small Batch 6 out of 10, Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Four Roses Small Batch 3 out of 10, Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Proof and heat dominate the difference.
- 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.
- Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year: Willett's own young distillate at full barrel proof. It is loud and sweet, all caramel corn, pastry and citrus, with a lot of heat for a four-year bourbon. Proof varies by batch.
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 Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year if you want a young, hot, barrel-proof pour that shows off Willett's own distillate with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, cocktails (Four Roses Small Batch); neat (Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year).