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Four Roses Bourbon vs Rowan's Creek
Four Roses Bourbon and Rowan's Creek sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, rye-forward classic versus an old-guard, classically built classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Four Roses Bourbon | Rowan's Creek |
|---|---|---|
| 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) | 100.1 proof (50.0% ABV) +20 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$22 – $28 ~$20 less | ~$40 – $50 |
- Rowan's Creek 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.
Rowan's Creek
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Four Roses Bourbon Rowan's Creek
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 2/5 heat: Four Roses Bourbon 2 out of 10, Rowan's Creek 5 out of 10
spice 5/7 spice: Four Roses Bourbon 5 out of 10, Rowan's Creek 7 out of 10
fruit 6/4 fruit: Four Roses Bourbon 6 out of 10, Rowan's Creek 4 out of 10
oak 3/4 oak: Four Roses Bourbon 3 out of 10, Rowan's Creek 4 out of 10
nuttiness 3/2 nuttiness: Four Roses Bourbon 3 out of 10, Rowan's Creek 2 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Four Roses Bourbon 6 out of 10, Rowan's Creek 6 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.
- Rowan's Creek: A small-batch Willett bottling that tastes rye-forward and herbal. Honey and caramel sit under mint, hay and warm spice, with a peppermint lift on the finish.
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 Rowan's Creek if you want an herbal, minty, rye-forward Willett bottling with more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed cocktails, highball, rocks (Four Roses Bourbon); neat, old-fashioned, cocktails (Rowan's Creek).