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Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond vs Four Roses Small Batch
Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond and Four Roses Small Batch sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, wheat-forward classic versus an old-guard, rye-forward classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond | Four Roses Small Batch |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 68% corn, 20% wheat, 12% malted barley | 75% corn, 20% rye, 5% malted barley |
| Age | 9 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) +10 proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$110 – $180 | ~$32 – $38 ~$110 less |
| Availability | Allocated | Widely available easier to find |
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Four Roses Small Batch
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond Four Roses Small Batch
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 2/6 spice: Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 2 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch 6 out of 10
sweetness 8/6 sweetness: Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 8 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch 6 out of 10
oak 7/5 oak: Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 7 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch 5 out of 10
fruit 6/7 fruit: Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch 7 out of 10
heat 4/4 heat: Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch 4 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 3 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The gap between these two is mostly about spice.
- Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond: The decanter series, released twice a year at varying ages, and Heaven Hill's most serious wheated statement. Age shows as polished oak and stewed fruit rather than tannin, but you pay handsomely for the bottle.
- 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.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond if you want an aged, bonded wheater in a presentation bottle and the price is not the obstacle with more proof behind it.
- 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 significantly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat (Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond); neat, rocks, cocktails (Four Roses Small Batch).