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Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond vs Four Roses Small Batch Select
Comparing Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond and Four Roses Small Batch Select is a closer contest than it looks — both are high-rye bourbons, separated mainly by price (~$45 – $55 vs. ~$55 – $65).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond | 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 | 4 years | 6 years +2 yr |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 104 proof (52% ABV) +4 proof |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$45 – $55 ~$10 less | ~$55 – $65 |
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Four Roses Small Batch Select
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond Four Roses Small Batch Select
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 5/8 fruit: Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch Select 8 out of 10
sweetness 7/6 sweetness: Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 7 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10
spice 6/7 spice: Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch Select 7 out of 10
oak 7/6 oak: Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 7 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10
heat 5/6 heat: Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 3 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch Select 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The fruit-versus-grain contrast drives this one.
- Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond: The bonded entry in the Whiskey Row series and a noticeable step up in density from the standard 100. More oak and more weight, though the price gap to the 100 proof is harder to justify than the flavour gap suggests.
- 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 1897 Bottled-in-Bond if you want a bonded, denser take on the Old Forester profile with more barrel behind it at a slightly 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 with an older age statement.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond); neat, rocks (Four Roses Small Batch Select).