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Four Roses Small Batch vs Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond
Four Roses Small Batch and Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, rye-forward classic versus an old-guard, classically built classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Four Roses Small Batch | Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 20% rye, 5% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | No age statement | 4 years |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) +10 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$32 – $38 | ~$16 – $22 ~$16 less |
- Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 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.
Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Four Roses Small Batch Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 7/4 fruit: Four Roses Small Batch 7 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10
spice 6/5 spice: Four Roses Small Batch 6 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
heat 4/5 heat: Four Roses Small Batch 4 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/4 nuttiness: Four Roses Small Batch 3 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Four Roses Small Batch 6 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10
oak 5/5 oak: Four Roses Small Batch 5 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The fruit-versus-grain contrast drives this one.
- 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.
- Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond: A bonded 100-proof bourbon at a price that barely seems possible, though distribution is patchy outside Kentucky. Unremarkable in the best way: it does everything a bourbon should and nothing extra.
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 Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond if you want a bonded Kentucky bourbon for under twenty dollars, if you can find it in your state with more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, cocktails (Four Roses Small Batch); neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond).