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Four Roses Small Batch vs Elijah Craig Small Batch
Comparing Four Roses Small Batch and Elijah Craig Small Batch reveals a matchup between a traditional, spice-driven Kentucky staple and a traditional, even-keeled Kentucky staple.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Four Roses Small Batch | Elijah Craig Small Batch |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 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) | 94 proof (47% ABV) +4 proof |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$32 – $38 | ~$28 – $35 |
- 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.
Elijah Craig Small Batch
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Four Roses Small Batch Elijah Craig Small Batch
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 7/4 fruit: Four Roses Small Batch 7 out of 10, Elijah Craig Small Batch 4 out of 10
oak 5/7 oak: Four Roses Small Batch 5 out of 10, Elijah Craig Small Batch 7 out of 10
spice 6/5 spice: Four Roses Small Batch 6 out of 10, Elijah Craig Small Batch 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/4 nuttiness: Four Roses Small Batch 3 out of 10, Elijah Craig Small Batch 4 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Four Roses Small Batch 6 out of 10, Elijah Craig Small Batch 6 out of 10
heat 4/4 heat: Four Roses Small Batch 4 out of 10, Elijah Craig Small Batch 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.
- Elijah Craig Small Batch: A heavily oak-driven pour for the money, with vanilla bean and brown sugar riding on top of real char and smoke. The extra age shows up as wood depth rather than harshness.
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 Elijah Craig Small Batch if you want the best oak-forward value on the shelf, with more wood character than its price suggests.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, cocktails (Four Roses Small Batch); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Elijah Craig Small Batch).