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Four Roses Small Batch Select vs New Riff Bottled-in-Bond
Comparing Four Roses Small Batch Select and New Riff Bottled-in-Bond is a closer contest than it looks — both are high-rye bourbons, separated mainly by price (~$55 – $65 vs. ~$38 – $45).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Four Roses Small Batch Select | New Riff Bottled-in-Bond |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 60% corn, 35% rye, 5% malted barley | 65% corn, 30% rye, 5% malted barley |
| Age | 6 years +2 yr | 4 years |
| Proof | 104 proof (52% ABV) +4 proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$55 – $65 | ~$38 – $45 ~$19 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.
New Riff Bottled-in-Bond
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Four Roses Small Batch Select New Riff Bottled-in-Bond
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 8/5 fruit: Four Roses Small Batch Select 8 out of 10, New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
sweetness 6/4 sweetness: Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10, New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10
spice 7/9 spice: Four Roses Small Batch Select 7 out of 10, New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 9 out of 10
oak 6/5 oak: Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10, New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
heat 6/6 heat: Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10, New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Four Roses Small Batch Select 3 out of 10, New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 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.
- New Riff Bottled-in-Bond: At 30% rye this is about as spice-forward as bourbon gets before becoming rye whiskey. Peppery and herbal with mint and dill, non-chill-filtered for texture, and noticeably dry rather than sweet.
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 an older age statement.
- Go with New Riff Bottled-in-Bond if you want aggressive rye spice and a dry, herbal profile from a modern craft distillery at a lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Four Roses Small Batch Select); neat, old-fashioned, cocktails (New Riff Bottled-in-Bond).