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Four Roses Bourbon vs Woodford Reserve
Four Roses Bourbon and Woodford Reserve are cut from similar cloth: two takes on high-rye bourbons, where the real difference is proof (80 vs. 90.4).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Four Roses Bourbon | Woodford Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 75% corn, 20% rye, 5% malted barley | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 80 proof (40% ABV) | 90.4 proof (45.2% ABV) +10 proof |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$22 – $28 ~$14 less | ~$35 – $42 |
- 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.
Woodford Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Four Roses Bourbon Woodford Reserve
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 3/6 oak: Four Roses Bourbon 3 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10
heat 2/4 heat: Four Roses Bourbon 2 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 4 out of 10
spice 5/6 spice: Four Roses Bourbon 5 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Four Roses Bourbon 6 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10
fruit 6/6 fruit: Four Roses Bourbon 6 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Four Roses Bourbon 3 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Oak is doing most of the differentiating here.
- 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.
- Woodford Reserve: The most widely poured premium bourbon in America, and a genuinely well-made one. Dried fruit and cocoa over a balanced 18% rye mash, finished smooth enough to please almost anyone.
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 Woodford Reserve if you want a polished, widely available crowd-pleaser that never puts a foot wrong with more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed cocktails, highball, rocks (Four Roses Bourbon); neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Woodford Reserve).