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Old Forester 86 Proof vs Four Roses Small Batch
Old Forester 86 Proof and Four Roses Small Batch are cut from similar cloth: two takes on high-rye bourbons, where the real difference is price (~$20 – $26 vs. ~$32 – $38).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Old Forester 86 Proof | Four Roses Small Batch |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley | 75% corn, 20% rye, 5% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 86 proof (43% ABV) | 90 proof (45% ABV) +4 proof |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$20 – $26 ~$12 less | ~$32 – $38 |
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Old Forester 86 Proof
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Four Roses Small Batch
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Old Forester 86 Proof Four Roses Small Batch
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 5/7 fruit: Old Forester 86 Proof 5 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch 7 out of 10
spice 5/6 spice: Old Forester 86 Proof 5 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch 6 out of 10
oak 4/5 oak: Old Forester 86 Proof 4 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch 5 out of 10
heat 3/4 heat: Old Forester 86 Proof 3 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch 4 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Old Forester 86 Proof 6 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Old Forester 86 Proof 3 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Fruit character is what sets these apart.
- Old Forester 86 Proof: The entry bottling and the cheapest way to meet the Old Forester banana-and-caramel signature. Thin at 86 proof, but it costs very little and mixes well.
- 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 Forester 86 Proof if you want the Old Forester house character at the lowest possible price.
- Go with Four Roses Small Batch if you want a fruit-and-floral profile that stands apart from the usual caramel-and-oak template.
Best enjoyed cocktails, highball, rocks (Old Forester 86 Proof); neat, rocks, cocktails (Four Roses Small Batch).