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Four Roses Small Batch Select vs Old Forester 1870 Original Batch
Comparing Four Roses Small Batch Select and Old Forester 1870 Original Batch is a closer contest than it looks — both are high-rye bourbons, separated mainly by proof (104 vs. 90).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Four Roses Small Batch Select | Old Forester 1870 Original Batch |
|---|---|---|
| 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) +14 proof | 90 proof (45% 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.
Old Forester 1870 Original Batch
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Four Roses Small Batch Select Old Forester 1870 Original Batch
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 7/4 spice: Four Roses Small Batch Select 7 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 4 out of 10
heat 6/3 heat: Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 3 out of 10
fruit 8/6 fruit: Four Roses Small Batch Select 8 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 6 out of 10
sweetness 6/7 sweetness: Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 7 out of 10
oak 6/5 oak: Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/2 nuttiness: Four Roses Small Batch Select 3 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 2 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Rye spice is the dividing line here.
- 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 1870 Original Batch: The first bottle in Old Forester's Whiskey Row Series, recreating the founder's habit of blending barrels from three warehouses. It is the lightest of the series, caramel sweet and easy.
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 more proof behind it.
- Go with Old Forester 1870 Original Batch if you want the gentlest, most easygoing pour in the Whiskey Row Series at a slightly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Four Roses Small Batch Select); neat, rocks, highball (Old Forester 1870 Original Batch).