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Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year vs Maker’s Mark 46
Comparing Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year and Maker’s Mark 46 reveals a matchup between an uncut, cask-strength bruiser and a traditional, wheated Kentucky staple.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year | Maker’s Mark 46 |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon, Barrel Proof | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 68% corn, 18% rye, 14% malted barley | 70% corn, 16% wheat, 14% malted barley |
| Age | 4 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 125.2 proof (62.6% ABV) +31 proof | 94 proof (47% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$65 – $75 | ~$38 – $45 ~$29 less |
| Availability | Limited | Widely available easier to find |
- Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year does not publish an official mash bill.
- US shelf prices as of 2026-10; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Maker’s Mark 46
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year Maker’s Mark 46
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 9/4 heat: Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year 9 out of 10, Maker’s Mark 46 4 out of 10
oak 4/7 oak: Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year 4 out of 10, Maker’s Mark 46 7 out of 10
spice 6/4 spice: Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year 6 out of 10, Maker’s Mark 46 4 out of 10
fruit 6/4 fruit: Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year 6 out of 10, Maker’s Mark 46 4 out of 10
sweetness 7/8 sweetness: Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year 7 out of 10, Maker’s Mark 46 8 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year 3 out of 10, Maker’s Mark 46 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Proof and heat dominate the difference.
- Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year: Willett's own young distillate at full barrel proof. It is loud and sweet, all caramel corn, pastry and citrus, with a lot of heat for a four-year bourbon. Proof varies by batch.
- Maker’s Mark 46: Finished with seared French oak staves inside the barrel, which adds the spice and wood that the standard bottling deliberately lacks. The most useful upgrade in the Maker's range.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year if you want a young, hot, barrel-proof pour that shows off Willett's own distillate with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
- Go with Maker’s Mark 46 if you want the softness of Maker's Mark with real oak and spice layered over it at a lower price point and without hunting for it.
Best enjoyed neat (Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Maker’s Mark 46).