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Four Roses Single Barrel vs Woodford Reserve
Four Roses Single Barrel and Woodford Reserve are cut from similar cloth: two takes on high-rye bourbons, where the real difference is proof (100 vs. 90.4).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Four Roses Single Barrel | Woodford Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| 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) +10 proof | 90.4 proof (45.2% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$45 – $55 | ~$35 – $42 ~$12 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.
Woodford Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Four Roses Single Barrel Woodford Reserve
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 8/6 spice: Four Roses Single Barrel 8 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10
heat 6/4 heat: Four Roses Single Barrel 6 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 4 out of 10
fruit 7/6 fruit: Four Roses Single Barrel 7 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Four Roses Single Barrel 6 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10
oak 6/6 oak: Four Roses Single Barrel 6 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Four Roses Single Barrel 3 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Rye spice is the dividing line here.
- 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.
- Woodford Reserve: The most widely poured premium bourbon in America, and a genuinely well-made one. Dried fruit and cocoa over a balanced 18% rye mash, finished smooth enough to please almost anyone.
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 slightly more proof behind it.
- Go with Woodford Reserve if you want a polished, widely available crowd-pleaser that never puts a foot wrong at a slightly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Four Roses Single Barrel); neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Woodford Reserve).