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Four Roses Small Batch Select vs Woodford Reserve
Four Roses Small Batch Select and Woodford Reserve are cut from similar cloth: two takes on high-rye bourbons, where the real difference is proof (104 vs. 90.4).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Four Roses Small Batch Select | Woodford Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 60% corn, 35% rye, 5% malted barley | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley |
| Age | 6 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 104 proof (52% ABV) +14 proof | 90.4 proof (45.2% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$55 – $65 | ~$35 – $42 ~$22 less |
- 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.
Woodford Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Four Roses Small Batch Select Woodford Reserve
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 8/6 fruit: Four Roses Small Batch Select 8 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10
heat 6/4 heat: Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 4 out of 10
spice 7/6 spice: Four Roses Small Batch Select 7 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10
oak 6/6 oak: Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Four Roses Small Batch Select 3 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 3 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.
- Woodford Reserve: The most widely poured premium bourbon in America, and a genuinely well-made one. Dried fruit and cocoa over a balanced 18% rye mash, finished smooth enough to please almost anyone.
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 more proof behind it.
- Go with Woodford Reserve if you want a polished, widely available crowd-pleaser that never puts a foot wrong at a lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Four Roses Small Batch Select); neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Woodford Reserve).