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Four Roses Bourbon vs Old Grand-Dad Bonded
Four Roses Bourbon and Old Grand-Dad Bonded sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, rye-forward classic versus an old-guard, rye-forward classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Four Roses Bourbon | Old Grand-Dad Bonded |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 20% rye, 5% malted barley | 63% corn, 27% rye, 10% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 4 years |
| Proof | 80 proof (40% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) +20 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$22 – $28 | ~$24 – $30 |
- Old Grand-Dad Bonded 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.
Old Grand-Dad Bonded
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Four Roses Bourbon Old Grand-Dad Bonded
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 2/6 heat: Four Roses Bourbon 2 out of 10, Old Grand-Dad Bonded 6 out of 10
spice 5/8 spice: Four Roses Bourbon 5 out of 10, Old Grand-Dad Bonded 8 out of 10
oak 3/5 oak: Four Roses Bourbon 3 out of 10, Old Grand-Dad Bonded 5 out of 10
fruit 6/4 fruit: Four Roses Bourbon 6 out of 10, Old Grand-Dad Bonded 4 out of 10
nuttiness 3/5 nuttiness: Four Roses Bourbon 3 out of 10, Old Grand-Dad Bonded 5 out of 10
sweetness 6/5 sweetness: Four Roses Bourbon 6 out of 10, Old Grand-Dad Bonded 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
These two land very differently on the palate for heat.
- 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.
- Old Grand-Dad Bonded: A bonded 100-proof high-rye bourbon for the price of a mixer, and one of the great bargains on the shelf. Cleaner and less overwhelming than the 114 while keeping the peppery rye backbone.
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.
- Go with Old Grand-Dad Bonded if you want a bonded, high-rye workhorse at mixer money with more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed cocktails, highball, rocks (Four Roses Bourbon); neat, old-fashioned, cocktails (Old Grand-Dad Bonded).