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Old Forester 100 Proof vs Four Roses Small Batch Select
Comparing Old Forester 100 Proof and Four Roses Small Batch Select is a closer contest than it looks — both are high-rye bourbons, separated mainly by price (~$26 – $32 vs. ~$55 – $65).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Old Forester 100 Proof | Four Roses Small Batch Select |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley | 60% corn, 35% rye, 5% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 6 years |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 104 proof (52% ABV) +4 proof |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$26 – $32 ~$31 less | ~$55 – $65 |
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Old Forester 100 Proof
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Four Roses Small Batch Select
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Old Forester 100 Proof Four Roses Small Batch Select
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 5/8 fruit: Old Forester 100 Proof 5 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch Select 8 out of 10
sweetness 7/6 sweetness: Old Forester 100 Proof 7 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10
spice 6/7 spice: Old Forester 100 Proof 6 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch Select 7 out of 10
heat 5/6 heat: Old Forester 100 Proof 5 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10
oak 6/6 oak: Old Forester 100 Proof 6 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Old Forester 100 Proof 3 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch Select 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Fruit character is what sets these apart.
- Old Forester 100 Proof: The bottle most people should buy from this range: the same recipe as the 86 with enough proof to actually taste it. One of the strongest arguments on the shelf for spending six dollars more.
- 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 Old Forester 100 Proof if you want the best value in the Old Forester range and a superb old-fashioned base.
- 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 with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Old Forester 100 Proof); neat, rocks (Four Roses Small Batch Select).