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Four Roses Small Batch vs Four Roses Small Batch Select
On paper Four Roses Small Batch and Four Roses Small Batch Select are near neighbours — both high-rye bourbons — so proof (90 vs. 104) is what actually decides it.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Four Roses Small Batch | Four Roses Small Batch Select |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 75% corn, 20% rye, 5% malted barley | 60% corn, 35% rye, 5% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 6 years |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) | 104 proof (52% ABV) +14 proof |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$32 – $38 ~$25 less | ~$55 – $65 |
- 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.
Four Roses Small Batch Select
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Four Roses Small Batch Four Roses Small Batch Select
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 4/6 heat: Four Roses Small Batch 4 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10
spice 6/7 spice: Four Roses Small Batch 6 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch Select 7 out of 10
oak 5/6 oak: Four Roses Small Batch 5 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10
fruit 7/8 fruit: Four Roses Small Batch 7 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch Select 8 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Four Roses Small Batch 6 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Four Roses Small Batch 3 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch Select 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Proof and heat dominate the difference.
- 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.
- Four Roses Small Batch Select: Six recipes, non-chill-filtered, at 104 proof, and the most complete thing Four Roses makes at a normal price. The house fruit character with enough proof and texture to carry it.
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 lower price point.
- Go with Four Roses Small Batch Select if you want the fullest expression of the Four Roses fruit-forward style without chasing an allocated bottle with more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, cocktails (Four Roses Small Batch); neat, rocks (Four Roses Small Batch Select).