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Buffalo Trace vs Four Roses Small Batch
Buffalo Trace and Four Roses Small Batch 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 Small Batch |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley | 75% corn, 20% rye, 5% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) | 90 proof (45% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$28 – $35 | ~$32 – $38 |
| 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 Small Batch
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Buffalo Trace Four Roses Small Batch
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 5/7 fruit: Buffalo Trace 5 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch 7 out of 10
spice 5/6 spice: Buffalo Trace 5 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch 6 out of 10
oak 6/5 oak: Buffalo Trace 6 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch 5 out of 10
nuttiness 4/3 nuttiness: Buffalo Trace 4 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch 3 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Buffalo Trace 6 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch 6 out of 10
heat 4/4 heat: Buffalo Trace 4 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch 4 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Fruit character is what sets these apart.
- 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 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 Buffalo Trace if you want the balanced, everyday Kentucky benchmark that does nothing wrong at a fair price.
- Go with Four Roses Small Batch if you want a fruit-and-floral profile that stands apart from the usual caramel-and-oak template without hunting for it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Buffalo Trace); neat, rocks, cocktails (Four Roses Small Batch).