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Four Roses Small Batch vs David Nicholson Reserve
Four Roses Small Batch and David Nicholson Reserve sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, rye-forward classic versus a blender-built, classically built bottling.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Four Roses Small Batch | David Nicholson Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| 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) | 100 proof (50% ABV) +10 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$32 – $38 | ~$30 – $40 |
- David Nicholson Reserve 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.
David Nicholson Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Four Roses Small Batch David Nicholson Reserve
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 7/3 fruit: Four Roses Small Batch 7 out of 10, David Nicholson Reserve 3 out of 10
sweetness 6/5 sweetness: Four Roses Small Batch 6 out of 10, David Nicholson Reserve 5 out of 10
oak 5/6 oak: Four Roses Small Batch 5 out of 10, David Nicholson Reserve 6 out of 10
heat 4/5 heat: Four Roses Small Batch 4 out of 10, David Nicholson Reserve 5 out of 10
spice 6/6 spice: Four Roses Small Batch 6 out of 10, David Nicholson Reserve 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Four Roses Small Batch 3 out of 10, David Nicholson Reserve 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.
- David Nicholson Reserve: The rye-recipe sibling to the 1843, with extra age. Toasty oak and rye spice give it more backbone, and the spice stays put through a long, warm finish.
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 David Nicholson Reserve if you want a toasty, spicy, 100-proof value bourbon that stands up in cocktails.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, cocktails (Four Roses Small Batch); old-fashioned, cocktails, rocks (David Nicholson Reserve).