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Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style vs Four Roses Small Batch Select
Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style and Four Roses Small Batch Select are cut from similar cloth: two takes on high-rye bourbons, where the real difference is proof (115 vs. 104).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style | 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 | 115 proof (57.5% ABV) +11 proof | 104 proof (52% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$55 – $70 | ~$55 – $65 |
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Four Roses Small Batch Select
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style Four Roses Small Batch Select
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 5/8 fruit: Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 5 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch Select 8 out of 10
sweetness 8/6 sweetness: Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 8 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10
oak 7/6 oak: Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 7 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10
heat 7/6 heat: Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 7 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10
spice 7/7 spice: Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 7 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch Select 7 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 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 1920 Prohibition Style: Dense and syrupy for its age, with molasses and dark chocolate carrying a serious 115-proof punch. The high rye reads as baking spice rather than sharpness, and the body is unusually thick.
- 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 1920 Prohibition Style if you want a rich, high-proof, dessert-leaning bourbon with real weight in the glass.
- 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, old-fashioned (Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style); neat, rocks (Four Roses Small Batch Select).