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Buffalo Trace vs Four Roses Single Barrel
Buffalo Trace and Four Roses Single Barrel sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, classically built classic versus an old-guard, rye-forward classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Buffalo Trace | Four Roses Single Barrel |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley | 60% corn, 35% rye, 5% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) +10 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$28 – $35 ~$19 less | ~$45 – $55 |
| Availability | Limited | Widely available easier to find |
- Buffalo Trace 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
Buffalo Trace
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Four Roses Single Barrel
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Buffalo Trace Four Roses Single Barrel
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 5/8 spice: Buffalo Trace 5 out of 10, Four Roses Single Barrel 8 out of 10
fruit 5/7 fruit: Buffalo Trace 5 out of 10, Four Roses Single Barrel 7 out of 10
heat 4/6 heat: Buffalo Trace 4 out of 10, Four Roses Single Barrel 6 out of 10
nuttiness 4/3 nuttiness: Buffalo Trace 4 out of 10, Four Roses Single Barrel 3 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Buffalo Trace 6 out of 10, Four Roses Single Barrel 6 out of 10
oak 6/6 oak: Buffalo Trace 6 out of 10, Four Roses Single Barrel 6 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Rye spice is the dividing line here.
- Buffalo Trace: The reference-point Kentucky bourbon: balanced brown sugar and vanilla sweetness, a whisper of mint, and just enough oak and spice to keep it interesting. Nothing is loud, which is exactly the point at 90 proof.
- Four Roses Single Barrel: The OBSV recipe on its own at 100 proof — the highest-rye mash Four Roses uses, paired with their most floral yeast. Cherry and clove in equal measure, and a genuinely distinctive glass.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Buffalo Trace if you want the balanced, everyday Kentucky benchmark that does nothing wrong at a fair price.
- Go with Four Roses Single Barrel if you want the most expressive, spice-and-fruit-forward single recipe in the Four Roses range with more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Buffalo Trace); neat, old-fashioned (Four Roses Single Barrel).