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Four Roses Small Batch Select vs Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond
Comparing Four Roses Small Batch Select and Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond is a closer contest than it looks — both are high-rye bourbons, separated mainly by price (~$55 – $65 vs. ~$45 – $55).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Four Roses Small Batch Select | Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond |
|---|---|---|
| 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 +2 yr | 4 years |
| Proof | 104 proof (52% ABV) +4 proof | 100 proof (50% 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 1897 Bottled-in-Bond
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Four Roses Small Batch Select Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 8/5 fruit: Four Roses Small Batch Select 8 out of 10, Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
sweetness 6/7 sweetness: Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10, Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 7 out of 10
spice 7/6 spice: Four Roses Small Batch Select 7 out of 10, Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10
oak 6/7 oak: Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10, Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 7 out of 10
heat 6/5 heat: Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10, Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Four Roses Small Batch Select 3 out of 10, Old Forester 1897 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.
- Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond: The bonded entry in the Whiskey Row series and a noticeable step up in density from the standard 100. More oak and more weight, though the price gap to the 100 proof is harder to justify than the flavour gap suggests.
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 Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond if you want a bonded, denser take on the Old Forester profile with more barrel behind it at a slightly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Four Roses Small Batch Select); neat, old-fashioned (Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond).