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Four Roses Small Batch Select vs Stagg
Four Roses Small Batch Select and Stagg sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, rye-forward classic versus an undiluted barrel-strength pour.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Four Roses Small Batch Select | Stagg |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon, Barrel Proof |
| Mash Bill 1 | 60% corn, 35% rye, 5% malted barley | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | 6 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 104 proof (52% ABV) | 130 proof (65% ABV) +26 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$55 – $65 ~$35 less | ~$70 – $120 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Limited |
- Stagg 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.
Stagg
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Four Roses Small Batch Select Stagg
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 6/10 heat: Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10, Stagg 10 out of 10
oak 6/9 oak: Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10, Stagg 9 out of 10
fruit 8/5 fruit: Four Roses Small Batch Select 8 out of 10, Stagg 5 out of 10
sweetness 6/7 sweetness: Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10, Stagg 7 out of 10
nuttiness 3/4 nuttiness: Four Roses Small Batch Select 3 out of 10, Stagg 4 out of 10
spice 7/7 spice: Four Roses Small Batch Select 7 out of 10, Stagg 7 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Proof and heat dominate the difference.
- 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.
- Stagg: Uncut and unfiltered Buffalo Trace at a proof that demands respect. Dark chocolate, espresso and charred oak arrive with genuine heat, and a few drops of water unlock a surprising amount of fruit.
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 at a significantly lower price point.
- Go with Stagg if you want the biggest, hottest, most concentrated expression of the Buffalo Trace profile with significantly more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Four Roses Small Batch Select); neat (Stagg).