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Four Roses Small Batch vs Wild Turkey 81
Four Roses Small Batch and Wild Turkey 81 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 | Wild Turkey 81 |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 20% rye, 5% malted barley | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) +9 proof | 81 proof (40.5% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$32 – $38 | ~$20 – $25 ~$13 less |
- Wild Turkey 81 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.
Wild Turkey 81
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Four Roses Small Batch Wild Turkey 81
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 7/3 fruit: Four Roses Small Batch 7 out of 10, Wild Turkey 81 3 out of 10
spice 6/4 spice: Four Roses Small Batch 6 out of 10, Wild Turkey 81 4 out of 10
heat 4/2 heat: Four Roses Small Batch 4 out of 10, Wild Turkey 81 2 out of 10
oak 5/4 oak: Four Roses Small Batch 5 out of 10, Wild Turkey 81 4 out of 10
nuttiness 3/2 nuttiness: Four Roses Small Batch 3 out of 10, Wild Turkey 81 2 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Four Roses Small Batch 6 out of 10, Wild Turkey 81 6 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.
- Wild Turkey 81: The same mash bill and No. 4 char as Wild Turkey 101, cut to 81 proof. Honey and toffee come through clearly, but the body and spice are much lighter.
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 with slightly more proof behind it.
- Go with Wild Turkey 81 if you want a lighter Wild Turkey built for mixing at a lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, cocktails (Four Roses Small Batch); highball, cocktails (Wild Turkey 81).