Compare
Four Roses Small Batch Select vs Johnny Drum Private Stock
Four Roses Small Batch Select and Johnny Drum Private Stock sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, rye-forward classic versus an old-guard, classically built classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Four Roses Small Batch Select | Johnny Drum Private Stock |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 60% corn, 35% rye, 5% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | 6 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 104 proof (52% ABV) +3 proof | 101 proof (50.5% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$55 – $65 | ~$35 – $45 ~$20 less |
- Johnny Drum Private Stock 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.
Johnny Drum Private Stock
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Four Roses Small Batch Select Johnny Drum Private Stock
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 8/6 fruit: Four Roses Small Batch Select 8 out of 10, Johnny Drum Private Stock 6 out of 10
spice 7/6 spice: Four Roses Small Batch Select 7 out of 10, Johnny Drum Private Stock 6 out of 10
oak 6/5 oak: Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10, Johnny Drum Private Stock 5 out of 10
heat 6/5 heat: Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10, Johnny Drum Private Stock 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/4 nuttiness: Four Roses Small Batch Select 3 out of 10, Johnny Drum Private Stock 4 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10, Johnny Drum Private Stock 6 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Fruit character is what sets these apart.
- 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.
- Johnny Drum Private Stock: An old-school Willett label at 101 proof. Oily and dessert-like, with baked apple, almond and custard, and rye-like mint and spice on the finish.
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.
- Go with Johnny Drum Private Stock if you want an oily, dessert-like 101-proof pour with old-school Willett character at a lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Four Roses Small Batch Select); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Johnny Drum Private Stock).