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Four Roses Small Batch Select vs Kentucky Owl Batch 12
Four Roses Small Batch Select and Kentucky Owl Batch 12 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 | Kentucky Owl Batch 12 |
|---|---|---|
| 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) | 115.8 proof (57.9% ABV) +12 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$55 – $65 ~$290 less | ~$300 – $400 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Limited |
- Kentucky Owl Batch 12 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.
Kentucky Owl Batch 12
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Four Roses Small Batch Select Kentucky Owl Batch 12
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 8/4 fruit: Four Roses Small Batch Select 8 out of 10, Kentucky Owl Batch 12 4 out of 10
oak 6/8 oak: Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10, Kentucky Owl Batch 12 8 out of 10
heat 6/7 heat: Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10, Kentucky Owl Batch 12 7 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10, Kentucky Owl Batch 12 6 out of 10
spice 7/7 spice: Four Roses Small Batch Select 7 out of 10, Kentucky Owl Batch 12 7 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Four Roses Small Batch Select 3 out of 10, Kentucky Owl Batch 12 3 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.
- Kentucky Owl Batch 12: A high-end blend of young and older sourced Kentucky bourbons. Leather, smoky oak and caramel, with a peppery, spice-forward palate.
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 Kentucky Owl Batch 12 if you want a spicy, leathery, high-end blended bourbon with more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Four Roses Small Batch Select); neat (Kentucky Owl Batch 12).