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Ancient Age vs Four Roses Small Batch Select
Put Ancient Age next to Four Roses Small Batch Select and you have a classic, high-rye stalwart set against a classic, high-rye stalwart.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Ancient Age | Four Roses Small Batch Select |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 15% rye, 10% malted barley | 60% corn, 35% rye, 5% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 6 years |
| Proof | 80 proof (40% ABV) | 104 proof (52% ABV) +24 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$14 – $18 ~$44 less | ~$55 – $65 |
- Ancient Age 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
Ancient Age
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Four Roses Small Batch Select
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Ancient Age Four Roses Small Batch Select
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 4/8 fruit: Ancient Age 4 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch Select 8 out of 10
heat 2/6 heat: Ancient Age 2 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10
spice 4/7 spice: Ancient Age 4 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch Select 7 out of 10
oak 3/6 oak: Ancient Age 3 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10
sweetness 5/6 sweetness: Ancient Age 5 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10
nuttiness 4/3 nuttiness: Ancient Age 4 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch Select 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Fruit character is what sets these apart.
- Ancient Age: The bottom rung of the Buffalo Trace ladder and priced accordingly. Thin and simple at 80 proof, but it is recognisably the Mash Bill #2 recipe and it does its job in a highball without complaint.
- 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 Ancient Age if you want the cheapest honest mixer in the lineup and you are not drinking it neat.
- 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 cocktails, highball (Ancient Age); neat, rocks (Four Roses Small Batch Select).