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Bulleit Bourbon vs Four Roses Small Batch Select
Bulleit Bourbon and Four Roses Small Batch Select are cut from similar cloth: two takes on high-rye bourbons, where the real difference is price (~$25 – $32 vs. ~$55 – $65).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Bulleit Bourbon | Four Roses Small Batch Select |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 68% corn, 28% rye, 4% malted barley | 60% corn, 35% rye, 5% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 6 years |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) | 104 proof (52% ABV) +14 proof |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$25 – $32 ~$32 less | ~$55 – $65 |
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Bulleit Bourbon
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Four Roses Small Batch Select
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Bulleit Bourbon Four Roses Small Batch Select
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 5/8 fruit: Bulleit Bourbon 5 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch Select 8 out of 10
heat 4/6 heat: Bulleit Bourbon 4 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10
sweetness 5/6 sweetness: Bulleit Bourbon 5 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10
oak 5/6 oak: Bulleit Bourbon 5 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10
spice 7/7 spice: Bulleit Bourbon 7 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch Select 7 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Bulleit Bourbon 3 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch Select 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The fruit-versus-grain contrast drives this one.
- Bulleit Bourbon: The bottle that put high-rye bourbon in every cocktail bar in the country. Peppery and dry with the familiar MGP dill note, and it earns its place behind the bar more than in a glass on its own.
- 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 Bulleit Bourbon if you want a dry, peppery, high-rye bourbon built for cocktails and available absolutely everywhere at a significantly lower price point.
- 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 old-fashioned, cocktails, highball (Bulleit Bourbon); neat, rocks (Four Roses Small Batch Select).