Compare
W.L. Weller Special Reserve vs E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch
Comparing W.L. Weller Special Reserve and E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch reveals a matchup between a traditional, wheated Kentucky staple and a traditional, even-keeled Kentucky staple.
Key Specifications
| Feature | W.L. Weller Special Reserve | E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) +10 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$30 – $60 ~$23 less | ~$45 – $90 |
- W.L. Weller Special Reserve and E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch do not publish an official mash bill.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 Special Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
W.L. Weller Special Reserve E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 2/5 spice: W.L. Weller Special Reserve 2 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch 5 out of 10
oak 4/7 oak: W.L. Weller Special Reserve 4 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch 7 out of 10
heat 3/5 heat: W.L. Weller Special Reserve 3 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch 5 out of 10
sweetness 7/6 sweetness: W.L. Weller Special Reserve 7 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/4 nuttiness: W.L. Weller Special Reserve 3 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch 4 out of 10
fruit 5/5 fruit: W.L. Weller Special Reserve 5 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Rye spice is the dividing line here.
- 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.
- E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch: Bottled-in-bond from the same low-rye Buffalo Trace recipe, and the extra 10 proof over standard BT gives it noticeably more grip. Butterscotch and tobacco with a long, drying finish that outlasts most bottles near its shelf price.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with W.L. Weller Special Reserve if you want the softest, sweetest, most approachable wheated pour of the group at a lower price point.
- Go with E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch if you want the Buffalo Trace house profile with real structure and a bonded 100-proof backbone.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, highball (W.L. Weller Special Reserve); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch).