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Four Roses Small Batch vs New Riff Bottled-in-Bond
Comparing Four Roses Small Batch and New Riff Bottled-in-Bond is a closer contest than it looks — both are high-rye bourbons, separated mainly by proof (90 vs. 100).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Four Roses Small Batch | New Riff Bottled-in-Bond |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 75% corn, 20% rye, 5% malted barley | 65% corn, 30% rye, 5% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 4 years |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) +10 proof |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$32 – $38 ~$7 less | ~$38 – $45 |
- 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.
New Riff Bottled-in-Bond
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Four Roses Small Batch New Riff Bottled-in-Bond
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 6/9 spice: Four Roses Small Batch 6 out of 10, New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 9 out of 10
sweetness 6/4 sweetness: Four Roses Small Batch 6 out of 10, New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10
fruit 7/5 fruit: Four Roses Small Batch 7 out of 10, New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
heat 4/6 heat: Four Roses Small Batch 4 out of 10, New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10
oak 5/5 oak: Four Roses Small Batch 5 out of 10, New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Four Roses Small Batch 3 out of 10, New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The gap between these two is mostly about spice.
- 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.
- New Riff Bottled-in-Bond: At 30% rye this is about as spice-forward as bourbon gets before becoming rye whiskey. Peppery and herbal with mint and dill, non-chill-filtered for texture, and noticeably dry rather than sweet.
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 slightly lower price point.
- Go with New Riff Bottled-in-Bond if you want aggressive rye spice and a dry, herbal profile from a modern craft distillery with more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, cocktails (Four Roses Small Batch); neat, old-fashioned, cocktails (New Riff Bottled-in-Bond).