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Four Roses Small Batch Select vs Bulleit Bourbon
Four Roses Small Batch Select and Bulleit Bourbon are cut from similar cloth: two takes on high-rye bourbons, where the real difference is price (~$55 – $65 vs. ~$25 – $32).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Four Roses Small Batch Select | Bulleit Bourbon |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 60% corn, 35% rye, 5% malted barley | 68% corn, 28% rye, 4% malted barley |
| Age | 6 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 104 proof (52% ABV) +14 proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$55 – $65 | ~$25 – $32 ~$32 less |
- 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.
Bulleit Bourbon
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Four Roses Small Batch Select Bulleit Bourbon
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 8/5 fruit: Four Roses Small Batch Select 8 out of 10, Bulleit Bourbon 5 out of 10
heat 6/4 heat: Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10, Bulleit Bourbon 4 out of 10
sweetness 6/5 sweetness: Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10, Bulleit Bourbon 5 out of 10
oak 6/5 oak: Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10, Bulleit Bourbon 5 out of 10
spice 7/7 spice: Four Roses Small Batch Select 7 out of 10, Bulleit Bourbon 7 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Four Roses Small Batch Select 3 out of 10, Bulleit Bourbon 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The fruit-versus-grain contrast drives this one.
- 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.
- Bulleit Bourbon: The bottle that put high-rye bourbon in every cocktail bar in the country. Peppery and dry with the familiar MGP dill note, and it earns its place behind the bar more than in a glass on its own.
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 with more proof behind it.
- Go with Bulleit Bourbon if you want a dry, peppery, high-rye bourbon built for cocktails and available absolutely everywhere at a significantly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Four Roses Small Batch Select); old-fashioned, cocktails, highball (Bulleit Bourbon).