Compare

Four Roses Single Barrel vs Four Roses Small Batch Select

On paper Four Roses Single Barrel and Four Roses Small Batch Select are near neighbours — both high-rye bourbons — so price (~$45 – $55 vs. ~$55 – $65) is what actually decides it.

Key Specifications

Feature Four Roses Single Barrel Four Roses Small Batch Select
Type / Style High-Rye Bourbon High-Rye Bourbon
Mash Bill 60% corn, 35% rye, 5% malted barley 60% corn, 35% rye, 5% malted barley
Age No age statement 6 years
Proof 100 proof (50% ABV) 104 proof (52% ABV) +4 proof
Approx. Price 1 ~$45 – $55 ~$10 less ~$55 – $65
  1. 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 yet

No notes yet.

Four Roses Small Batch Select

Not rated yet

No notes yet.

Flavor Profile

Four Roses Single Barrel Four Roses Small Batch Select
sweetnessspiceoakfruitheatnuttiness

Axis by axis, biggest gap first

spice 8/7 spice: Four Roses Single Barrel 8 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch Select 7 out of 10
fruit 7/8 fruit: Four Roses Single Barrel 7 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch Select 8 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Four Roses Single Barrel 6 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10
oak 6/6 oak: Four Roses Single Barrel 6 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10
heat 6/6 heat: Four Roses Single Barrel 6 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Four Roses Single Barrel 3 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch Select 3 out of 10

Flavor Profile Differences

These two land close together on every flavor axis — the differences are in texture and proof more than character.

  • 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 Small Batch Select: Six recipes, non-chill-filtered, at 104 proof, and the most complete thing Four Roses makes at a normal price. The house fruit character with enough proof and texture to carry it.

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 Four Roses Small Batch Select if you want the fullest expression of the Four Roses fruit-forward style without chasing an allocated bottle with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.

Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Four Roses Single Barrel); neat, rocks (Four Roses Small Batch Select).