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Elijah Craig Small Batch vs Four Roses Small Batch Select
Elijah Craig Small Batch and Four Roses Small Batch Select sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, classically built classic versus an old-guard, rye-forward classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Elijah Craig Small Batch | Four Roses Small Batch Select |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley | 60% corn, 35% rye, 5% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 6 years |
| Proof | 94 proof (47% ABV) | 104 proof (52% ABV) +10 proof |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$28 – $35 ~$29 less | ~$55 – $65 |
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Elijah Craig Small Batch
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Four Roses Small Batch Select
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Elijah Craig Small Batch Four Roses Small Batch Select
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 4/8 fruit: Elijah Craig Small Batch 4 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch Select 8 out of 10
spice 5/7 spice: Elijah Craig Small Batch 5 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch Select 7 out of 10
heat 4/6 heat: Elijah Craig Small Batch 4 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10
oak 7/6 oak: Elijah Craig Small Batch 7 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10
nuttiness 4/3 nuttiness: Elijah Craig Small Batch 4 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch Select 3 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Elijah Craig Small Batch 6 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The fruit-versus-grain contrast drives this one.
- Elijah Craig Small Batch: A heavily oak-driven pour for the money, with vanilla bean and brown sugar riding on top of real char and smoke. The extra age shows up as wood depth rather than harshness.
- 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 Elijah Craig Small Batch if you want the best oak-forward value on the shelf, with more wood character than its price suggests.
- 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 neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Elijah Craig Small Batch); neat, rocks (Four Roses Small Batch Select).