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Four Roses Small Batch vs Old Grand-Dad 114
Comparing Four Roses Small Batch and Old Grand-Dad 114 reveals a matchup between a traditional, spice-driven Kentucky staple and a traditional, spice-driven Kentucky staple.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Four Roses Small Batch | Old Grand-Dad 114 |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 20% rye, 5% malted barley | 63% corn, 27% rye, 10% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) | 114 proof (57% ABV) +24 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$32 – $38 | ~$28 – $35 |
- Old Grand-Dad 114 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.
Old Grand-Dad 114
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Four Roses Small Batch Old Grand-Dad 114
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 4/8 heat: Four Roses Small Batch 4 out of 10, Old Grand-Dad 114 8 out of 10
spice 6/9 spice: Four Roses Small Batch 6 out of 10, Old Grand-Dad 114 9 out of 10
fruit 7/4 fruit: Four Roses Small Batch 7 out of 10, Old Grand-Dad 114 4 out of 10
nuttiness 3/5 nuttiness: Four Roses Small Batch 3 out of 10, Old Grand-Dad 114 5 out of 10
oak 5/6 oak: Four Roses Small Batch 5 out of 10, Old Grand-Dad 114 6 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Four Roses Small Batch 6 out of 10, Old Grand-Dad 114 6 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.
- Old Grand-Dad 114: The best proof-per-dollar in American whiskey and it is not especially close. The 27% rye mash at 114 proof is loud, peppery and completely unsubtle, which is exactly why it makes such a good old-fashioned.
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 Grand-Dad 114 if you want maximum rye spice and proof for under thirty dollars.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, cocktails (Four Roses Small Batch); neat, old-fashioned, cocktails (Old Grand-Dad 114).