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Four Roses Small Batch vs Eagle Rare 12 Year
Comparing Four Roses Small Batch and Eagle Rare 12 Year reveals a matchup between a traditional, spice-driven Kentucky staple and a traditional, even-keeled Kentucky staple.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Four Roses Small Batch | Eagle Rare 12 Year |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 12 years |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) | 95 proof (47.5% ABV) +5 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$32 – $38 ~$30 less | ~$50 – $80 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Allocated |
- Eagle Rare 12 Year 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.
Eagle Rare 12 Year
Top 3, behind George T. Stagg and Jack Daniel's 14.
Flavor Profile
Four Roses Small Batch Eagle Rare 12 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 5/7 oak: Four Roses Small Batch 5 out of 10, Eagle Rare 12 Year 7 out of 10
sweetness 6/7 sweetness: Four Roses Small Batch 6 out of 10, Eagle Rare 12 Year 7 out of 10
spice 6/5 spice: Four Roses Small Batch 6 out of 10, Eagle Rare 12 Year 5 out of 10
fruit 7/6 fruit: Four Roses Small Batch 7 out of 10, Eagle Rare 12 Year 6 out of 10
heat 4/5 heat: Four Roses Small Batch 4 out of 10, Eagle Rare 12 Year 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/4 nuttiness: Four Roses Small Batch 3 out of 10, Eagle Rare 12 Year 4 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Barrel influence is the main separator.
- 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.
- Eagle Rare 12 Year: Two more years and five more proof points than Eagle Rare 10. Brown sugar and toffee lead, with a drier, more astringent oak 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 at a significantly lower price point.
- Go with Eagle Rare 12 Year if you want an older, richer step up from Eagle Rare 10 with more brown sugar and oak.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, cocktails (Four Roses Small Batch); neat, rocks (Eagle Rare 12 Year).