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Blanton’s Single Barrel vs Four Roses Small Batch
Comparing Blanton’s Single Barrel and Four Roses Small Batch is a closer contest than it looks — both are high-rye bourbons, separated mainly by price (~$80 – $150 vs. ~$32 – $38).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Blanton’s Single Barrel | 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 | 93 proof (46.5% ABV) +3 proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$80 – $150 | ~$32 – $38 ~$80 less |
| Availability | Allocated | Widely available easier to find |
- Blanton’s Single Barrel 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
Blanton’s Single Barrel
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Four Roses Small Batch
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Blanton’s Single Barrel Four Roses Small Batch
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 6/5 oak: Blanton’s Single Barrel 6 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch 5 out of 10
fruit 6/7 fruit: Blanton’s Single Barrel 6 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch 7 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Blanton’s Single Barrel 6 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch 6 out of 10
spice 6/6 spice: Blanton’s Single Barrel 6 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch 6 out of 10
heat 4/4 heat: Blanton’s Single Barrel 4 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch 4 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Blanton’s Single Barrel 3 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
These two land close together on every flavor axis — the differences are in texture and proof more than character.
- Blanton’s Single Barrel: The bottle that invented the single-barrel category and still trades largely on its horse-stopper cork and its scarcity. The whiskey itself is genuinely good — honeyed and citrus-led with nutmeg spice — but at secondary prices you are paying for the bottle as much as the pour.
- 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 Blanton’s Single Barrel if you want the original single-barrel presentation and a honeyed, citrus-led profile, and the hunt is part of the appeal.
- Go with Four Roses Small Batch if you want a fruit-and-floral profile that stands apart from the usual caramel-and-oak template at a significantly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Blanton’s Single Barrel); neat, rocks, cocktails (Four Roses Small Batch).