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Four Roses Small Batch vs Old Forester 1870 Original Batch
Four Roses Small Batch and Old Forester 1870 Original Batch are cut from similar cloth: two takes on high-rye bourbons, where the real difference is price (~$32 – $38 vs. ~$45 – $55).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Four Roses Small Batch | Old Forester 1870 Original Batch |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 75% corn, 20% rye, 5% malted barley | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) | 90 proof (45% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$32 – $38 ~$15 less | ~$45 – $55 |
- 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.
Old Forester 1870 Original Batch
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Four Roses Small Batch Old Forester 1870 Original Batch
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 6/4 spice: Four Roses Small Batch 6 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 4 out of 10
sweetness 6/7 sweetness: Four Roses Small Batch 6 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 7 out of 10
fruit 7/6 fruit: Four Roses Small Batch 7 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 6 out of 10
heat 4/3 heat: Four Roses Small Batch 4 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 3 out of 10
nuttiness 3/2 nuttiness: Four Roses Small Batch 3 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 2 out of 10
oak 5/5 oak: Four Roses Small Batch 5 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 5 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.
- Old Forester 1870 Original Batch: The first bottle in Old Forester's Whiskey Row Series, recreating the founder's habit of blending barrels from three warehouses. It is the lightest of the series, caramel sweet and easy.
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 Old Forester 1870 Original Batch if you want the gentlest, most easygoing pour in the Whiskey Row Series.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, cocktails (Four Roses Small Batch); neat, rocks, highball (Old Forester 1870 Original Batch).