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Four Roses Small Batch Select vs Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon
Four Roses Small Batch Select and Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, rye-forward classic versus a blender-built, wheat-forward bottling.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Four Roses Small Batch Select | Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 60% corn, 35% rye, 5% malted barley | 72% corn, 18% wheat, 10% malted barley |
| Age | 6 years +1 yr | 5 years |
| Proof | 104 proof (52% ABV) +4 proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$55 – $65 | ~$49 – $55 ~$8 less |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Limited |
- Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon 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.
Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Four Roses Small Batch Select Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 8/3 fruit: Four Roses Small Batch Select 8 out of 10, Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon 3 out of 10
spice 7/5 spice: Four Roses Small Batch Select 7 out of 10, Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/5 nuttiness: Four Roses Small Batch Select 3 out of 10, Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon 5 out of 10
sweetness 6/7 sweetness: Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10, Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon 7 out of 10
heat 6/5 heat: Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10, Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon 5 out of 10
oak 6/6 oak: Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10, Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon 6 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Fruit character is what sets these apart.
- 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.
- Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon: A Notre Dame-licensed wheater given a second, double-oaked barrel. Maple, honey butter and toasted nuts lead, with charred wood and pepper on a long, warm finish.
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 without hunting for it.
- Go with Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon if you want a double-oaked wheater with maple, toasted nuts and charred wood at a slightly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Four Roses Small Batch Select); neat, old-fashioned (Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon).