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Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year vs Maker's Mark
Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year and Maker's Mark sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an undiluted barrel-strength pour versus an old-guard, wheat-forward classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year | Maker's Mark |
|---|---|---|
| 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) +35 proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$65 – $75 | ~$25 – $32 ~$42 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
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year Maker's Mark
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 9/3 heat: Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year 9 out of 10, Maker's Mark 3 out of 10
spice 6/2 spice: Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year 6 out of 10, Maker's Mark 2 out of 10
fruit 6/4 fruit: Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year 6 out of 10, Maker's Mark 4 out of 10
sweetness 7/8 sweetness: Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year 7 out of 10, Maker's Mark 8 out of 10
oak 4/4 oak: Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year 4 out of 10, Maker's Mark 4 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year 3 out of 10, Maker's Mark 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
These two land very differently on the palate for heat.
- 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: The bottle that made wheated bourbon mainstream. Soft, sweet, and deliberately low on spice and oak, with baked bread and honey doing most of the work. Consistency is its real feature.
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 if you want a reliably sweet, low-spice wheater that is easy to find and easy to drink at a significantly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat (Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year); neat, rocks, cocktails, highball (Maker's Mark).