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Four Roses Bourbon vs Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish
Four Roses Bourbon and Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, rye-forward classic versus a blender-built, classically built bottling.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Four Roses Bourbon | Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 20% rye, 5% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 80 proof (40% ABV) | 91.4 proof (45.7% ABV) +11 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$22 – $28 ~$85 less | ~$90 – $130 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Limited |
- Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 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
Four Roses Bourbon
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Four Roses Bourbon Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 3/8 oak: Four Roses Bourbon 3 out of 10, Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 8 out of 10
sweetness 6/8 sweetness: Four Roses Bourbon 6 out of 10, Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 8 out of 10
heat 2/4 heat: Four Roses Bourbon 2 out of 10, Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 4 out of 10
spice 5/4 spice: Four Roses Bourbon 5 out of 10, Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 4 out of 10
fruit 6/5 fruit: Four Roses Bourbon 6 out of 10, Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/4 nuttiness: Four Roses Bourbon 3 out of 10, Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 4 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Barrel influence is the main separator.
- Four Roses Bourbon: The yellow label entry point, blending all ten Four Roses recipes at a gentle 80 proof. Light and fruity to a fault, but the house floral character is already recognisable and it mixes beautifully.
- Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish: The standard Michter's bourbon given a second toasted barrel, which adds sweetness and wood to an already polished pour. Genuinely good, though the price has drifted well past what the liquid alone justifies.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Four Roses Bourbon if you want the Four Roses fruit-and-floral signature at its lightest and cheapest without hunting for it.
- Go with Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish if you want the smoothest, most polished toasted-barrel pour here and price is not the deciding factor with more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed cocktails, highball, rocks (Four Roses Bourbon); neat (Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish).