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Ancient Age vs Four Roses Small Batch
On paper Ancient Age and Four Roses Small Batch are near neighbours — both high-rye bourbons — so proof (80 vs. 90) is what actually decides it.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Ancient Age | Four Roses Small Batch |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 15% rye, 10% malted barley | 75% corn, 20% rye, 5% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 80 proof (40% ABV) | 90 proof (45% ABV) +10 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$14 – $18 ~$19 less | ~$32 – $38 |
- 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
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Ancient Age Four Roses Small Batch
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 4/7 fruit: Ancient Age 4 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch 7 out of 10
spice 4/6 spice: Ancient Age 4 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch 6 out of 10
oak 3/5 oak: Ancient Age 3 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch 5 out of 10
heat 2/4 heat: Ancient Age 2 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch 4 out of 10
sweetness 5/6 sweetness: Ancient Age 5 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch 6 out of 10
nuttiness 4/3 nuttiness: Ancient Age 4 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The fruit-versus-grain contrast drives this one.
- 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: 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 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 if you want a fruit-and-floral profile that stands apart from the usual caramel-and-oak template with more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed cocktails, highball (Ancient Age); neat, rocks, cocktails (Four Roses Small Batch).