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Four Roses Small Batch Select vs Barrell Bourbon (Batch Series)
Four Roses Small Batch Select and Barrell Bourbon (Batch Series) sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, rye-forward classic versus an undiluted barrel-strength pour.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Four Roses Small Batch Select | Barrell Bourbon (Batch Series) |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon, Barrel Proof |
| Mash Bill 1 | 60% corn, 35% rye, 5% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | 6 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 104 proof (52% ABV) | 110 proof (55% ABV) +6 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$55 – $65 ~$30 less | ~$80 – $100 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Limited |
- Barrell Bourbon (Batch Series) 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 Small Batch Select
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Barrell Bourbon (Batch Series)
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Four Roses Small Batch Select Barrell Bourbon (Batch Series)
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 6/8 oak: Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10, Barrell Bourbon (Batch Series) 8 out of 10
fruit 8/6 fruit: Four Roses Small Batch Select 8 out of 10, Barrell Bourbon (Batch Series) 6 out of 10
heat 6/8 heat: Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10, Barrell Bourbon (Batch Series) 8 out of 10
sweetness 6/7 sweetness: Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10, Barrell Bourbon (Batch Series) 7 out of 10
nuttiness 3/4 nuttiness: Four Roses Small Batch Select 3 out of 10, Barrell Bourbon (Batch Series) 4 out of 10
spice 7/7 spice: Four Roses Small Batch Select 7 out of 10, Barrell Bourbon (Batch Series) 7 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Oak is doing most of the differentiating here.
- 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.
- Barrell Bourbon (Batch Series): Barrell blends sourced barrels from multiple states and bottles at cask strength, and the batches differ enormously. At their best they show a tropical fruit note that almost nothing else in bourbon delivers.
Which One Should You Choose?
- 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 at a significantly lower price point.
- Go with Barrell Bourbon (Batch Series) if you want an adventurous, cask-strength blend and you accept that each batch is its own animal.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Four Roses Small Batch Select); neat (Barrell Bourbon (Batch Series)).