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Four Roses Small Batch Select vs Old Forester Statesman
Four Roses Small Batch Select and Old Forester Statesman are cut from similar cloth: two takes on high-rye bourbons, where the real difference is proof (104 vs. 95).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Four Roses Small Batch Select | Old Forester Statesman |
|---|---|---|
| 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) +9 proof | 95 proof (47.5% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$55 – $65 | ~$50 – $55 ~$8 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 Statesman
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Four Roses Small Batch Select Old Forester Statesman
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
sweetness 6/8 sweetness: Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10, Old Forester Statesman 8 out of 10
spice 7/5 spice: Four Roses Small Batch Select 7 out of 10, Old Forester Statesman 5 out of 10
heat 6/4 heat: Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10, Old Forester Statesman 4 out of 10
oak 6/5 oak: Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10, Old Forester Statesman 5 out of 10
fruit 8/7 fruit: Four Roses Small Batch Select 8 out of 10, Old Forester Statesman 7 out of 10
nuttiness 3/2 nuttiness: Four Roses Small Batch Select 3 out of 10, Old Forester Statesman 2 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The clearest split is how sweet each one drinks.
- 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 Statesman: Old Forester's fruit-forward middle child, first made for a spy movie tie-in. Bright cherry and brown sugar lead, with cocoa and a touch of the house banana note.
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 slightly more proof behind it.
- Go with Old Forester Statesman if you want a bright, cherry-sweet Old Forester that sits between the 100 and 1920 in weight at a slightly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Four Roses Small Batch Select); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Old Forester Statesman).