Compare
Four Roses Small Batch Select vs Old Forester 100 Proof
Comparing Four Roses Small Batch Select and Old Forester 100 Proof is a closer contest than it looks — both are high-rye bourbons, separated mainly by price (~$55 – $65 vs. ~$26 – $32).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Four Roses Small Batch Select | Old Forester 100 Proof |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 60% corn, 35% rye, 5% malted barley | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley |
| Age | 6 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 104 proof (52% ABV) +4 proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$55 – $65 | ~$26 – $32 ~$31 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.
Old Forester 100 Proof
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Four Roses Small Batch Select Old Forester 100 Proof
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 8/5 fruit: Four Roses Small Batch Select 8 out of 10, Old Forester 100 Proof 5 out of 10
sweetness 6/7 sweetness: Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10, Old Forester 100 Proof 7 out of 10
spice 7/6 spice: Four Roses Small Batch Select 7 out of 10, Old Forester 100 Proof 6 out of 10
heat 6/5 heat: Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10, Old Forester 100 Proof 5 out of 10
oak 6/6 oak: Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10, Old Forester 100 Proof 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Four Roses Small Batch Select 3 out of 10, Old Forester 100 Proof 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.
- Old Forester 100 Proof: The bottle most people should buy from this range: the same recipe as the 86 with enough proof to actually taste it. One of the strongest arguments on the shelf for spending six dollars more.
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 Old Forester 100 Proof if you want the best value in the Old Forester range and a superb old-fashioned base.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Four Roses Small Batch Select); neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Old Forester 100 Proof).