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Four Roses Single Barrel vs Four Roses Bourbon
Four Roses Single Barrel and Four Roses Bourbon 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 Single Barrel | Four Roses Bourbon |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 60% corn, 35% rye, 5% malted barley | 75% corn, 20% rye, 5% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) +20 proof | 80 proof (40% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$45 – $55 | ~$22 – $28 ~$25 less |
- 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.
Four Roses Bourbon
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Four Roses Single Barrel Four Roses Bourbon
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 6/2 heat: Four Roses Single Barrel 6 out of 10, Four Roses Bourbon 2 out of 10
spice 8/5 spice: Four Roses Single Barrel 8 out of 10, Four Roses Bourbon 5 out of 10
oak 6/3 oak: Four Roses Single Barrel 6 out of 10, Four Roses Bourbon 3 out of 10
fruit 7/6 fruit: Four Roses Single Barrel 7 out of 10, Four Roses Bourbon 6 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Four Roses Single Barrel 6 out of 10, Four Roses Bourbon 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Four Roses Single Barrel 3 out of 10, Four Roses Bourbon 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
These two land very differently on the palate for heat.
- 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.
- 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.
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 with more proof behind it.
- Go with Four Roses Bourbon if you want the Four Roses fruit-and-floral signature at its lightest and cheapest.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Four Roses Single Barrel); cocktails, highball, rocks (Four Roses Bourbon).