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Four Roses Small Batch vs Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series
Put Four Roses Small Batch next to Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series and you have a classic, high-rye stalwart set against a contemporary, corn-forward craft build.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Four Roses Small Batch | Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 20% rye, 5% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) | 98.9 proof (49.5% ABV) +9 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$32 – $38 ~$28 less | ~$55 – $70 |
- Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series 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
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Four Roses Small Batch Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
sweetness 6/7 sweetness: Four Roses Small Batch 6 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series 7 out of 10
spice 6/5 spice: Four Roses Small Batch 6 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series 5 out of 10
oak 5/6 oak: Four Roses Small Batch 5 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series 6 out of 10
fruit 7/6 fruit: Four Roses Small Batch 7 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series 6 out of 10
heat 4/5 heat: Four Roses Small Batch 4 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Four Roses Small Batch 3 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
These two land close together on every flavor axis — the differences are in texture and proof more than character.
- Four Roses Small Batch: Four Roses' yeast strains push this toward fruit and florals rather than wood. Red berry and cinnamon over a light body, with the rye showing up as brightness instead of bite.
- Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series: A blend of Bardstown's own young distillate with older sourced Kentucky whiskey, which is exactly what the name describes. Polished and fruit-leaning, and a clear demonstration that the blending is the skill on show.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Four Roses Small Batch if you want a fruit-and-floral profile that stands apart from the usual caramel-and-oak template at a lower price point.
- Go with Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series if you want a well-built modern blend that shows what careful blending does rather than what age alone does with slightly more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, cocktails (Four Roses Small Batch); neat, rocks (Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series).