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Johnny Drum Private Stock vs Four Roses Small Batch Select
Johnny Drum Private Stock and Four Roses Small Batch Select sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, classically built classic versus an old-guard, rye-forward classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Johnny Drum Private Stock | Four Roses Small Batch Select |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | 60% corn, 35% rye, 5% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 6 years |
| Proof | 101 proof (50.5% ABV) | 104 proof (52% ABV) +3 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$35 – $45 ~$20 less | ~$55 – $65 |
- Johnny Drum Private Stock does not publish an official mash bill.
- US shelf prices as of 2026-10; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Johnny Drum Private Stock
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Four Roses Small Batch Select
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Johnny Drum Private Stock Four Roses Small Batch Select
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 6/8 fruit: Johnny Drum Private Stock 6 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch Select 8 out of 10
spice 6/7 spice: Johnny Drum Private Stock 6 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch Select 7 out of 10
oak 5/6 oak: Johnny Drum Private Stock 5 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10
heat 5/6 heat: Johnny Drum Private Stock 5 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10
nuttiness 4/3 nuttiness: Johnny Drum Private Stock 4 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch Select 3 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Johnny Drum Private Stock 6 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Fruit character is what sets these apart.
- Johnny Drum Private Stock: An old-school Willett label at 101 proof. Oily and dessert-like, with baked apple, almond and custard, and rye-like mint and spice on the finish.
- Four Roses Small Batch Select: Six recipes, non-chill-filtered, at 104 proof, and the most complete thing Four Roses makes at a normal price. The house fruit character with enough proof and texture to carry it.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Johnny Drum Private Stock if you want an oily, dessert-like 101-proof pour with old-school Willett character at a lower price point.
- Go with Four Roses Small Batch Select if you want the fullest expression of the Four Roses fruit-forward style without chasing an allocated bottle.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Johnny Drum Private Stock); neat, rocks (Four Roses Small Batch Select).