Compare
Four Roses Single Barrel vs Jefferson’s Very Small Batch
Put Four Roses Single Barrel next to Jefferson’s Very Small Batch and you have a classic, high-rye stalwart set against a blender-built, corn-forward bottling.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Four Roses Single Barrel | Jefferson’s Very Small Batch |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 60% corn, 35% rye, 5% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) +18 proof | 82.3 proof (41.1% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$45 – $55 | ~$28 – $36 ~$18 less |
- Jefferson’s Very Small Batch 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.
Jefferson’s Very Small Batch
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Four Roses Single Barrel Jefferson’s Very Small Batch
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 8/4 spice: Four Roses Single Barrel 8 out of 10, Jefferson’s Very Small Batch 4 out of 10
heat 6/2 heat: Four Roses Single Barrel 6 out of 10, Jefferson’s Very Small Batch 2 out of 10
oak 6/4 oak: Four Roses Single Barrel 6 out of 10, Jefferson’s Very Small Batch 4 out of 10
fruit 7/5 fruit: Four Roses Single Barrel 7 out of 10, Jefferson’s Very Small Batch 5 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Four Roses Single Barrel 6 out of 10, Jefferson’s Very Small Batch 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Four Roses Single Barrel 3 out of 10, Jefferson’s Very Small Batch 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.
- Jefferson’s Very Small Batch: A blend of sourced barrels bottled at a very gentle 82.3 proof. Easy and inoffensive, but thin enough that it is hard to recommend over bonded bottles costing less.
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 Jefferson’s Very Small Batch if you want an especially soft, low-proof pour and gentleness matters more than intensity at a lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Four Roses Single Barrel); rocks, cocktails, highball (Jefferson’s Very Small Batch).