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Four Roses Small Batch vs Penelope Toasted Series
Comparing Four Roses Small Batch and Penelope Toasted Series is a closer contest than it looks — both are high-rye bourbons, separated mainly by price (~$32 – $38 vs. ~$55 – $70).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Four Roses Small Batch | Penelope Toasted Series |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 75% corn, 20% rye, 5% malted barley | 75% corn, 21% rye, 4% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) +10 proof |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$32 – $38 ~$28 less | ~$55 – $70 |
- 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.
Penelope Toasted Series
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Four Roses Small Batch Penelope Toasted Series
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 7/4 fruit: Four Roses Small Batch 7 out of 10, Penelope Toasted Series 4 out of 10
oak 5/7 oak: Four Roses Small Batch 5 out of 10, Penelope Toasted Series 7 out of 10
sweetness 6/7 sweetness: Four Roses Small Batch 6 out of 10, Penelope Toasted Series 7 out of 10
spice 6/5 spice: Four Roses Small Batch 6 out of 10, Penelope Toasted Series 5 out of 10
heat 4/5 heat: Four Roses Small Batch 4 out of 10, Penelope Toasted Series 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Four Roses Small Batch 3 out of 10, Penelope Toasted Series 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.
- Penelope Toasted Series: Finished in a second, freshly toasted barrel, which pushes it toward toffee, roasted coffee and darker oak. The toast level changes from batch to batch.
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 Penelope Toasted Series if you want a toasty, coffee-and-toffee bourbon from a second-barrel finish with more proof behind it and with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, cocktails (Four Roses Small Batch); neat, old-fashioned (Penelope Toasted Series).