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W.L. Weller Special Reserve vs Four Roses Single Barrel
Put W.L. Weller Special Reserve 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 Special Reserve | Four Roses Single Barrel |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | 60% corn, 35% rye, 5% 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 ~$5 less | ~$45 – $55 |
| Availability | Allocated | Widely available easier to find |
- 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
W.L. Weller Special Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Four Roses Single Barrel
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
W.L. Weller Special Reserve Four Roses Single Barrel
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 2/8 spice: W.L. Weller Special Reserve 2 out of 10, Four Roses Single Barrel 8 out of 10
heat 3/6 heat: W.L. Weller Special Reserve 3 out of 10, Four Roses Single Barrel 6 out of 10
oak 4/6 oak: W.L. Weller Special Reserve 4 out of 10, Four Roses Single Barrel 6 out of 10
fruit 5/7 fruit: W.L. Weller Special Reserve 5 out of 10, Four Roses Single Barrel 7 out of 10
sweetness 7/6 sweetness: W.L. Weller Special Reserve 7 out of 10, Four Roses Single Barrel 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: W.L. Weller Special Reserve 3 out of 10, Four Roses Single Barrel 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The gap between these two is mostly about spice.
- 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.
- 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 Special Reserve if you want the softest, sweetest, most approachable wheated pour of the group at a slightly lower price point.
- Go with Four Roses Single Barrel if you want the most expressive, spice-and-fruit-forward single recipe in the Four Roses range with more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, highball (W.L. Weller Special Reserve); neat, old-fashioned (Four Roses Single Barrel).