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Four Roses Single Barrel vs Old Forester 100 Proof
Four Roses Single Barrel and Old Forester 100 Proof are cut from similar cloth: two takes on high-rye bourbons, where the real difference is price (~$45 – $55 vs. ~$26 – $32).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Four Roses Single Barrel | Old Forester 100 Proof |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 60% corn, 35% rye, 5% malted barley | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$45 – $55 | ~$26 – $32 ~$21 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.
Old Forester 100 Proof
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Four Roses Single Barrel Old Forester 100 Proof
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 8/6 spice: Four Roses Single Barrel 8 out of 10, Old Forester 100 Proof 6 out of 10
fruit 7/5 fruit: Four Roses Single Barrel 7 out of 10, Old Forester 100 Proof 5 out of 10
sweetness 6/7 sweetness: Four Roses Single Barrel 6 out of 10, Old Forester 100 Proof 7 out of 10
heat 6/5 heat: Four Roses Single Barrel 6 out of 10, Old Forester 100 Proof 5 out of 10
oak 6/6 oak: Four Roses Single Barrel 6 out of 10, Old Forester 100 Proof 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Four Roses Single Barrel 3 out of 10, Old Forester 100 Proof 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.
- Old Forester 100 Proof: The bottle most people should buy from this range: the same recipe as the 86 with enough proof to actually taste it. One of the strongest arguments on the shelf for spending six dollars more.
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.
- Go with Old Forester 100 Proof if you want the best value in the Old Forester range and a superb old-fashioned base.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Four Roses Single Barrel); neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Old Forester 100 Proof).