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Evan Williams Black Label vs Four Roses Small Batch Select
Evan Williams Black Label 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 | Evan Williams Black Label | 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 | 86 proof (43% ABV) | 104 proof (52% ABV) +18 proof |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$14 – $18 ~$44 less | ~$55 – $65 |
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Evan Williams Black Label
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Four Roses Small Batch Select
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Evan Williams Black Label Four Roses Small Batch Select
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 4/8 fruit: Evan Williams Black Label 4 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch Select 8 out of 10
spice 4/7 spice: Evan Williams Black Label 4 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch Select 7 out of 10
heat 3/6 heat: Evan Williams Black Label 3 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10
oak 5/6 oak: Evan Williams Black Label 5 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10
nuttiness 4/3 nuttiness: Evan Williams Black Label 4 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch Select 3 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Evan Williams Black Label 6 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The fruit-versus-grain contrast drives this one.
- Evan Williams Black Label: The everyday black label, and a perfectly competent well bourbon. Softer and sweeter than the bonded version, with less to say but nothing objectionable.
- 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 Evan Williams Black Label if you want a dependable, inexpensive mixing bourbon and nothing more complicated than that 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 cocktails, highball, rocks (Evan Williams Black Label); neat, rocks (Four Roses Small Batch Select).