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Willett Pot Still Reserve vs Four Roses Small Batch Select
Comparing Willett Pot Still Reserve and Four Roses Small Batch Select reveals a matchup between a modern, even-keeled craft expression and a traditional, spice-driven Kentucky staple.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Willett Pot Still Reserve | Four Roses Small Batch Select |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | 60% corn, 35% rye, 5% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 6 years |
| Proof | 94 proof (47% ABV) | 104 proof (52% ABV) +10 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$45 – $60 ~$8 less | ~$55 – $65 |
- Willett Pot Still 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
Willett Pot Still Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Four Roses Small Batch Select
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Willett Pot Still Reserve Four Roses Small Batch Select
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 5/7 spice: Willett Pot Still Reserve 5 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch Select 7 out of 10
fruit 6/8 fruit: Willett Pot Still Reserve 6 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch Select 8 out of 10
heat 4/6 heat: Willett Pot Still Reserve 4 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10
sweetness 7/6 sweetness: Willett Pot Still Reserve 7 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10
nuttiness 4/3 nuttiness: Willett Pot Still Reserve 4 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch Select 3 out of 10
oak 6/6 oak: Willett Pot Still Reserve 6 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Rye spice is the dividing line here.
- Willett Pot Still Reserve: Famous first for the pot-still-shaped decanter and second for the whiskey, which is a fair ordering. Pleasant, sweet and fruit-leaning, with a good deal of the price attached to the glass.
- Four Roses Small Batch Select: Six recipes, non-chill-filtered, at 104 proof, and the most complete thing Four Roses makes at a normal price. The house fruit character with enough proof and texture to carry it.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Willett Pot Still Reserve if you want a distinctive bottle on the shelf and an easy, fruit-forward pour inside it at a slightly lower price point.
- Go with Four Roses Small Batch Select if you want the fullest expression of the Four Roses fruit-forward style without chasing an allocated bottle with more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Willett Pot Still Reserve); neat, rocks (Four Roses Small Batch Select).