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Four Roses Small Batch vs Jim Beam Black
Four Roses Small Batch and Jim Beam Black are cut from similar cloth: two takes on high-rye bourbons, where the real difference is price (~$32 – $38 vs. ~$22 – $28).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Four Roses Small Batch | Jim Beam Black |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 20% rye, 5% malted barley | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 7 years |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) +4 proof | 86 proof (43% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$32 – $38 | ~$22 – $28 ~$10 less |
- Jim Beam Black 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.
Jim Beam Black
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Four Roses Small Batch Jim Beam Black
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 7/3 fruit: Four Roses Small Batch 7 out of 10, Jim Beam Black 3 out of 10
nuttiness 3/6 nuttiness: Four Roses Small Batch 3 out of 10, Jim Beam Black 6 out of 10
spice 6/4 spice: Four Roses Small Batch 6 out of 10, Jim Beam Black 4 out of 10
oak 5/6 oak: Four Roses Small Batch 5 out of 10, Jim Beam Black 6 out of 10
heat 4/3 heat: Four Roses Small Batch 4 out of 10, Jim Beam Black 3 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Four Roses Small Batch 6 out of 10, Jim Beam Black 6 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The fruit-versus-grain contrast drives this one.
- 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.
- Jim Beam Black: The extra-aged version of the white label and a considerable step up for a few dollars more. Softer and rounder than Knob Creek with the same family peanut note, at a proof that keeps everything gentle.
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 Jim Beam Black if you want the Beam house character at its most affordable and easy-going.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, cocktails (Four Roses Small Batch); neat, rocks, cocktails (Jim Beam Black).