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Four Roses Small Batch vs Bulleit Bourbon
On paper Four Roses Small Batch and Bulleit Bourbon are near neighbours — both high-rye bourbons — so price (~$32 – $38 vs. ~$25 – $32) is what actually decides it.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Four Roses Small Batch | Bulleit Bourbon |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 75% corn, 20% rye, 5% malted barley | 68% corn, 28% rye, 4% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) | 90 proof (45% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$32 – $38 | ~$25 – $32 ~$7 less |
- 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.
Bulleit Bourbon
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Four Roses Small Batch Bulleit Bourbon
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 7/5 fruit: Four Roses Small Batch 7 out of 10, Bulleit Bourbon 5 out of 10
sweetness 6/5 sweetness: Four Roses Small Batch 6 out of 10, Bulleit Bourbon 5 out of 10
spice 6/7 spice: Four Roses Small Batch 6 out of 10, Bulleit Bourbon 7 out of 10
oak 5/5 oak: Four Roses Small Batch 5 out of 10, Bulleit Bourbon 5 out of 10
heat 4/4 heat: Four Roses Small Batch 4 out of 10, Bulleit Bourbon 4 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Four Roses Small Batch 3 out of 10, Bulleit Bourbon 3 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.
- Bulleit Bourbon: The bottle that put high-rye bourbon in every cocktail bar in the country. Peppery and dry with the familiar MGP dill note, and it earns its place behind the bar more than in a glass on its own.
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.
- Go with Bulleit Bourbon if you want a dry, peppery, high-rye bourbon built for cocktails and available absolutely everywhere at a slightly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, cocktails (Four Roses Small Batch); old-fashioned, cocktails, highball (Bulleit Bourbon).