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W.L. Weller 12 Year vs Four Roses Small Batch Select
Put W.L. Weller 12 Year next to Four Roses Small Batch Select 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 Small Batch Select |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | 60% corn, 35% rye, 5% malted barley |
| Age | 12 years +6 yr | 6 years |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) | 104 proof (52% ABV) +14 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$70 – $180 | ~$55 – $65 ~$65 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 Small Batch Select
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
W.L. Weller 12 Year Four Roses Small Batch Select
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 2/7 spice: W.L. Weller 12 Year 2 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch Select 7 out of 10
heat 3/6 heat: W.L. Weller 12 Year 3 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10
sweetness 8/6 sweetness: W.L. Weller 12 Year 8 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10
fruit 6/8 fruit: W.L. Weller 12 Year 6 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch Select 8 out of 10
oak 7/6 oak: W.L. Weller 12 Year 7 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: W.L. Weller 12 Year 3 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch Select 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 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.
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 Small Batch Select if you want the fullest expression of the Four Roses fruit-forward style without chasing an allocated bottle at a significantly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat (W.L. Weller 12 Year); neat, rocks (Four Roses Small Batch Select).