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Four Roses Small Batch Select vs Old Grand-Dad Bonded
Four Roses Small Batch Select and Old Grand-Dad Bonded are cut from similar cloth: two takes on high-rye bourbons, where the real difference is price (~$55 – $65 vs. ~$24 – $30).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Four Roses Small Batch Select | Old Grand-Dad Bonded |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 60% corn, 35% rye, 5% malted barley | 63% corn, 27% rye, 10% malted barley |
| Age | 6 years +2 yr | 4 years |
| Proof | 104 proof (52% ABV) +4 proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$55 – $65 | ~$24 – $30 ~$33 less |
- Old Grand-Dad Bonded does not publish an official mash bill.
- 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 Grand-Dad Bonded
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Four Roses Small Batch Select Old Grand-Dad Bonded
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 8/4 fruit: Four Roses Small Batch Select 8 out of 10, Old Grand-Dad Bonded 4 out of 10
nuttiness 3/5 nuttiness: Four Roses Small Batch Select 3 out of 10, Old Grand-Dad Bonded 5 out of 10
sweetness 6/5 sweetness: Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10, Old Grand-Dad Bonded 5 out of 10
spice 7/8 spice: Four Roses Small Batch Select 7 out of 10, Old Grand-Dad Bonded 8 out of 10
oak 6/5 oak: Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10, Old Grand-Dad Bonded 5 out of 10
heat 6/6 heat: Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10, Old Grand-Dad Bonded 6 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 Grand-Dad Bonded: A bonded 100-proof high-rye bourbon for the price of a mixer, and one of the great bargains on the shelf. Cleaner and less overwhelming than the 114 while keeping the peppery rye backbone.
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 Grand-Dad Bonded if you want a bonded, high-rye workhorse at mixer money.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Four Roses Small Batch Select); neat, old-fashioned, cocktails (Old Grand-Dad Bonded).