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Four Roses Single Barrel vs Barrell Foundation Bourbon
Comparing Four Roses Single Barrel and Barrell Foundation Bourbon is a closer contest than it looks — both are high-rye bourbons, separated mainly by price (~$45 – $55 vs. ~$50 – $60).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Four Roses Single Barrel | Barrell Foundation Bourbon |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 60% corn, 35% rye, 5% malted barley | 73% corn, 23% rye, 4% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 5 years |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$45 – $55 ~$5 less | ~$50 – $60 |
- Barrell Foundation Bourbon 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 Single Barrel
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Barrell Foundation Bourbon
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Four Roses Single Barrel Barrell Foundation Bourbon
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 8/6 spice: Four Roses Single Barrel 8 out of 10, Barrell Foundation Bourbon 6 out of 10
fruit 7/5 fruit: Four Roses Single Barrel 7 out of 10, Barrell Foundation Bourbon 5 out of 10
heat 6/5 heat: Four Roses Single Barrel 6 out of 10, Barrell Foundation Bourbon 5 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Four Roses Single Barrel 6 out of 10, Barrell Foundation Bourbon 6 out of 10
oak 6/6 oak: Four Roses Single Barrel 6 out of 10, Barrell Foundation Bourbon 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Four Roses Single Barrel 3 out of 10, Barrell Foundation Bourbon 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The gap between these two is mostly about spice.
- Four Roses Single Barrel: The OBSV recipe on its own at 100 proof — the highest-rye mash Four Roses uses, paired with their most floral yeast. Cherry and clove in equal measure, and a genuinely distinctive glass.
- Barrell Foundation Bourbon: Barrell's everyday bottle: a multi-state blend proofed down to 100 instead of bottled at cask strength. Creamy cake and vanilla up front, then a dry, rye-driven peppery finish.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Four Roses Single Barrel if you want the most expressive, spice-and-fruit-forward single recipe in the Four Roses range at a slightly lower price point.
- Go with Barrell Foundation Bourbon if you want an approachable, 100-proof Barrell blend that still shows off multi-state blending with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Four Roses Single Barrel); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Barrell Foundation Bourbon).