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W.L. Weller 12 Year vs Four Roses Single Barrel
Put W.L. Weller 12 Year next to Four Roses Single Barrel and you have a classic, high-wheat stalwart set against a classic, high-rye stalwart.
Key Specifications
| Feature | W.L. Weller 12 Year | Four Roses Single Barrel |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | 60% corn, 35% rye, 5% malted barley |
| Age | 12 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) +10 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$70 – $180 | ~$45 – $55 ~$75 less |
| Availability | Allocated | Widely available easier to find |
- 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
W.L. Weller 12 Year
No notes yet.
Four Roses Single Barrel
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
W.L. Weller 12 Year Four Roses Single Barrel
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 2/8 spice: W.L. Weller 12 Year 2 out of 10, Four Roses Single Barrel 8 out of 10
heat 3/6 heat: W.L. Weller 12 Year 3 out of 10, Four Roses Single Barrel 6 out of 10
sweetness 8/6 sweetness: W.L. Weller 12 Year 8 out of 10, Four Roses Single Barrel 6 out of 10
oak 7/6 oak: W.L. Weller 12 Year 7 out of 10, Four Roses Single Barrel 6 out of 10
fruit 6/7 fruit: W.L. Weller 12 Year 6 out of 10, Four Roses Single Barrel 7 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: W.L. Weller 12 Year 3 out of 10, Four Roses Single Barrel 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Rye spice is the dividing line here.
- 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.
- Four Roses Single Barrel: The OBSV recipe on its own at 100 proof — the highest-rye mash Four Roses uses, paired with their most floral yeast. Cherry and clove in equal measure, and a genuinely distinctive glass.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with W.L. Weller 12 Year if you want age and elegance on a wheated mash, and you are willing to chase it.
- Go with Four Roses Single Barrel if you want the most expressive, spice-and-fruit-forward single recipe in the Four Roses range at a significantly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat (W.L. Weller 12 Year); neat, old-fashioned (Four Roses Single Barrel).