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Four Roses Small Batch vs Buffalo Trace
Four Roses Small Batch and Buffalo Trace sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, rye-forward classic versus an old-guard, classically built classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Four Roses Small Batch | Buffalo Trace |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 20% rye, 5% malted barley | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) | 90 proof (45% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$32 – $38 | ~$28 – $35 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Limited |
- Buffalo Trace 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.
Buffalo Trace
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Four Roses Small Batch Buffalo Trace
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 7/5 fruit: Four Roses Small Batch 7 out of 10, Buffalo Trace 5 out of 10
spice 6/5 spice: Four Roses Small Batch 6 out of 10, Buffalo Trace 5 out of 10
oak 5/6 oak: Four Roses Small Batch 5 out of 10, Buffalo Trace 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/4 nuttiness: Four Roses Small Batch 3 out of 10, Buffalo Trace 4 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Four Roses Small Batch 6 out of 10, Buffalo Trace 6 out of 10
heat 4/4 heat: Four Roses Small Batch 4 out of 10, Buffalo Trace 4 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Fruit character is what sets these apart.
- 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.
- Buffalo Trace: The reference-point Kentucky bourbon: balanced brown sugar and vanilla sweetness, a whisper of mint, and just enough oak and spice to keep it interesting. Nothing is loud, which is exactly the point at 90 proof.
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 without hunting for it.
- Go with Buffalo Trace if you want the balanced, everyday Kentucky benchmark that does nothing wrong at a fair price.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, cocktails (Four Roses Small Batch); neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Buffalo Trace).