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Four Roses Small Batch Select vs Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style
Four Roses Small Batch Select and Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style are cut from similar cloth: two takes on high-rye bourbons, where the real difference is proof (104 vs. 115).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Four Roses Small Batch Select | Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style |
|---|---|---|
| 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) | 115 proof (57.5% ABV) +11 proof |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$55 – $65 | ~$55 – $70 |
- 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 1920 Prohibition Style
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Four Roses Small Batch Select Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 8/5 fruit: Four Roses Small Batch Select 8 out of 10, Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 5 out of 10
sweetness 6/8 sweetness: Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10, Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 8 out of 10
oak 6/7 oak: Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10, Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 7 out of 10
heat 6/7 heat: Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10, Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 7 out of 10
spice 7/7 spice: Four Roses Small Batch Select 7 out of 10, Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 7 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Four Roses Small Batch Select 3 out of 10, Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 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 1920 Prohibition Style: Dense and syrupy for its age, with molasses and dark chocolate carrying a serious 115-proof punch. The high rye reads as baking spice rather than sharpness, and the body is unusually thick.
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 1920 Prohibition Style if you want a rich, high-proof, dessert-leaning bourbon with real weight in the glass.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Four Roses Small Batch Select); neat, old-fashioned (Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style).