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Four Roses Small Batch Select vs Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond
Put Four Roses Small Batch Select next to Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond and you have a classic, high-rye stalwart set against a classic, corn-forward stalwart.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Four Roses Small Batch Select | Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 60% corn, 35% rye, 5% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | 6 years +2 yr | 4 years |
| Proof | 104 proof (52% ABV) +4 proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$55 – $65 | ~$16 – $22 ~$41 less |
- Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 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.
Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Four Roses Small Batch Select Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 8/4 fruit: Four Roses Small Batch Select 8 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10
spice 7/5 spice: Four Roses Small Batch Select 7 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
oak 6/5 oak: Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
heat 6/5 heat: Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/4 nuttiness: Four Roses Small Batch Select 3 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 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.
- Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond: A bonded 100-proof bourbon at a price that barely seems possible, though distribution is patchy outside Kentucky. Unremarkable in the best way: it does everything a bourbon should and nothing extra.
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 an older age statement.
- Go with Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond if you want a bonded Kentucky bourbon for under twenty dollars, if you can find it in your state.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Four Roses Small Batch Select); neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond).