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Four Roses Small Batch Select vs Rowan's Creek
Comparing Four Roses Small Batch Select and Rowan's Creek reveals a matchup between a traditional, spice-driven Kentucky staple and a traditional, even-keeled Kentucky staple.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Four Roses Small Batch Select | Rowan's Creek |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 60% corn, 35% rye, 5% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | 6 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 104 proof (52% ABV) +4 proof | 100.1 proof (50.0% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$55 – $65 | ~$40 – $50 ~$15 less |
- Rowan's Creek 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.
Rowan's Creek
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Four Roses Small Batch Select Rowan's Creek
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 8/4 fruit: Four Roses Small Batch Select 8 out of 10, Rowan's Creek 4 out of 10
oak 6/4 oak: Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10, Rowan's Creek 4 out of 10
heat 6/5 heat: Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10, Rowan's Creek 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/2 nuttiness: Four Roses Small Batch Select 3 out of 10, Rowan's Creek 2 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10, Rowan's Creek 6 out of 10
spice 7/7 spice: Four Roses Small Batch Select 7 out of 10, Rowan's Creek 7 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.
- Rowan's Creek: A small-batch Willett bottling that tastes rye-forward and herbal. Honey and caramel sit under mint, hay and warm spice, with a peppermint lift on the 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.
- Go with Rowan's Creek if you want an herbal, minty, rye-forward Willett bottling at a lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Four Roses Small Batch Select); neat, old-fashioned, cocktails (Rowan's Creek).