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Four Roses Small Batch Select vs Penelope Four Grain
Put Four Roses Small Batch Select next to Penelope Four Grain and you have a classic, high-rye stalwart set against a sourced, corn-forward blend.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Four Roses Small Batch Select | Penelope Four Grain |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Four-Grain Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 60% corn, 35% rye, 5% malted barley | 74% corn, 7% rye, 16% wheat, 3% malted barley |
| Age | 6 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 104 proof (52% ABV) +24 proof | 80 proof (40% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$55 – $65 | ~$30 – $40 ~$25 less |
- Penelope Four Grain 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.
Penelope Four Grain
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Four Roses Small Batch Select Penelope Four Grain
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 7/3 spice: Four Roses Small Batch Select 7 out of 10, Penelope Four Grain 3 out of 10
heat 6/2 heat: Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10, Penelope Four Grain 2 out of 10
oak 6/3 oak: Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10, Penelope Four Grain 3 out of 10
fruit 8/5 fruit: Four Roses Small Batch Select 8 out of 10, Penelope Four Grain 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/4 nuttiness: Four Roses Small Batch Select 3 out of 10, Penelope Four Grain 4 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10, Penelope Four Grain 6 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.
- Penelope Four Grain: A light, low-proof blend of corn, wheat, rye and barley. Honey, almond and orchard fruit keep it sweet and easy, though it reads young and thin when sipped neat.
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 Penelope Four Grain if you want an easy, light, honeyed bourbon that mixes well at a lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Four Roses Small Batch Select); highball, cocktails (Penelope Four Grain).