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Four Roses Small Batch vs Woodford Reserve
On paper Four Roses Small Batch and Woodford Reserve are near neighbours — both high-rye bourbons — so personal preference more than spec is what actually decides it.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Four Roses Small Batch | Woodford Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | ~$35 – $42 |
- 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
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Four Roses Small Batch Woodford Reserve
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 5/6 oak: Four Roses Small Batch 5 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10
fruit 7/6 fruit: Four Roses Small Batch 7 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Four Roses Small Batch 6 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10
spice 6/6 spice: Four Roses Small Batch 6 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10
heat 4/4 heat: Four Roses Small Batch 4 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 4 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Four Roses Small Batch 3 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
These two land close together on every flavor axis — the differences are in texture and proof more than character.
- 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: The most widely poured premium bourbon in America, and a genuinely well-made one. Dried fruit and cocoa over a balanced 18% rye mash, finished smooth enough to please almost anyone.
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 Woodford Reserve if you want a polished, widely available crowd-pleaser that never puts a foot wrong.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, cocktails (Four Roses Small Batch); neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Woodford Reserve).