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Four Roses Small Batch Select vs Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel
Comparing Four Roses Small Batch Select and Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel is a closer contest than it looks — both are high-rye bourbons, separated mainly by proof (104 vs. 110).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Four Roses Small Batch Select | Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 60% corn, 35% rye, 5% malted barley | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | 6 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 104 proof (52% ABV) | 110 proof (55% ABV) +6 proof |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$55 – $65 | ~$55 – $70 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Limited |
- 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.
Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Four Roses Small Batch Select Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 8/4 fruit: Four Roses Small Batch Select 8 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 4 out of 10
oak 6/8 oak: Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 8 out of 10
spice 7/8 spice: Four Roses Small Batch Select 7 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 8 out of 10
heat 6/7 heat: Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 7 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Four Roses Small Batch Select 3 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 3 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.
- Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel: Non-chill-filtered single barrels at 110 proof, and the format that store picks have made a cult of. Concentrated Wild Turkey character with a texture the standard bottlings do not have.
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 Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel if you want concentrated Wild Turkey character with single-barrel variation and real texture with slightly more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Four Roses Small Batch Select); neat, old-fashioned (Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel).