Compare
W.L. Weller Special Reserve vs Four Roses Small Batch
Comparing W.L. Weller Special Reserve and Four Roses Small Batch reveals a matchup between a traditional, wheated Kentucky staple and a traditional, spice-driven Kentucky staple.
Key Specifications
| Feature | W.L. Weller Special Reserve | Four Roses Small Batch |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | 75% corn, 20% rye, 5% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) | 90 proof (45% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$30 – $60 | ~$32 – $38 ~$10 less |
| 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 Small Batch
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
W.L. Weller Special Reserve Four Roses Small Batch
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 2/6 spice: W.L. Weller Special Reserve 2 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch 6 out of 10
fruit 5/7 fruit: W.L. Weller Special Reserve 5 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch 7 out of 10
sweetness 7/6 sweetness: W.L. Weller Special Reserve 7 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch 6 out of 10
oak 4/5 oak: W.L. Weller Special Reserve 4 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch 5 out of 10
heat 3/4 heat: W.L. Weller Special Reserve 3 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch 4 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: W.L. Weller Special Reserve 3 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch 3 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.
- 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.
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.
- 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 slightly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, highball (W.L. Weller Special Reserve); neat, rocks, cocktails (Four Roses Small Batch).