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Four Roses Small Batch Select vs Four Roses Single Barrel
On paper Four Roses Small Batch Select and Four Roses Single Barrel are near neighbours — both high-rye bourbons — so price (~$55 – $65 vs. ~$45 – $55) is what actually decides it.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Four Roses Small Batch Select | Four Roses Single Barrel |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 60% corn, 35% rye, 5% malted barley | 60% corn, 35% rye, 5% malted barley |
| Age | 6 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 104 proof (52% ABV) +4 proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$55 – $65 | ~$45 – $55 ~$10 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.
Four Roses Single Barrel
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Four Roses Small Batch Select Four Roses Single Barrel
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 7/8 spice: Four Roses Small Batch Select 7 out of 10, Four Roses Single Barrel 8 out of 10
fruit 8/7 fruit: Four Roses Small Batch Select 8 out of 10, Four Roses Single Barrel 7 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10, Four Roses Single Barrel 6 out of 10
oak 6/6 oak: Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10, Four Roses Single Barrel 6 out of 10
heat 6/6 heat: Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10, Four Roses Single Barrel 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Four Roses Small Batch Select 3 out of 10, Four Roses Single Barrel 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
These two land close together on every flavor axis — the differences are in texture and proof more than character.
- 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.
- 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.
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 the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
- Go with Four Roses Single Barrel if you want the most expressive, spice-and-fruit-forward single recipe in the Four Roses range at a slightly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Four Roses Small Batch Select); neat, old-fashioned (Four Roses Single Barrel).