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Four Roses Small Batch vs Woodford Reserve Double Oaked
Comparing Four Roses Small Batch and Woodford Reserve Double Oaked is a closer contest than it looks — both are high-rye bourbons, separated mainly by price (~$32 – $38 vs. ~$50 – $62).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Four Roses Small Batch | Woodford Reserve Double Oaked |
|---|---|---|
| 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) | 90.4 proof (45.2% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$32 – $38 ~$21 less | ~$50 – $62 |
- 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.
Woodford Reserve Double Oaked
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Four Roses Small Batch Woodford Reserve Double Oaked
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 5/9 oak: Four Roses Small Batch 5 out of 10, Woodford Reserve Double Oaked 9 out of 10
sweetness 6/8 sweetness: Four Roses Small Batch 6 out of 10, Woodford Reserve Double Oaked 8 out of 10
fruit 7/5 fruit: Four Roses Small Batch 7 out of 10, Woodford Reserve Double Oaked 5 out of 10
spice 6/5 spice: Four Roses Small Batch 6 out of 10, Woodford Reserve Double Oaked 5 out of 10
heat 4/4 heat: Four Roses Small Batch 4 out of 10, Woodford Reserve Double Oaked 4 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Four Roses Small Batch 3 out of 10, Woodford Reserve Double Oaked 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Oak is doing most of the differentiating here.
- 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.
- Woodford Reserve Double Oaked: A second barrel, deeply toasted, and the result is unashamedly dessert-like. Maple and caramelised sugar with heavy wood — polarising if you want restraint, excellent if you want sweetness.
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 Woodford Reserve Double Oaked if you want an overtly sweet, heavily oaked, dessert-leaning bourbon.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, cocktails (Four Roses Small Batch); neat, rocks (Woodford Reserve Double Oaked).