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Four Roses Small Batch vs Old Forester 86 Proof
Four Roses Small Batch and Old Forester 86 Proof are cut from similar cloth: two takes on high-rye bourbons, where the real difference is price (~$32 – $38 vs. ~$20 – $26).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Four Roses Small Batch | Old Forester 86 Proof |
|---|---|---|
| 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) +4 proof | 86 proof (43% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$32 – $38 | ~$20 – $26 ~$12 less |
- 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 86 Proof
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Four Roses Small Batch Old Forester 86 Proof
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 7/5 fruit: Four Roses Small Batch 7 out of 10, Old Forester 86 Proof 5 out of 10
spice 6/5 spice: Four Roses Small Batch 6 out of 10, Old Forester 86 Proof 5 out of 10
oak 5/4 oak: Four Roses Small Batch 5 out of 10, Old Forester 86 Proof 4 out of 10
heat 4/3 heat: Four Roses Small Batch 4 out of 10, Old Forester 86 Proof 3 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Four Roses Small Batch 6 out of 10, Old Forester 86 Proof 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Four Roses Small Batch 3 out of 10, Old Forester 86 Proof 3 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.
- Old Forester 86 Proof: The entry bottling and the cheapest way to meet the Old Forester banana-and-caramel signature. Thin at 86 proof, but it costs very little and mixes well.
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 Old Forester 86 Proof if you want the Old Forester house character at the lowest possible price.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, cocktails (Four Roses Small Batch); cocktails, highball, rocks (Old Forester 86 Proof).