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Old Grand-Dad Bonded vs Four Roses Small Batch
Old Grand-Dad Bonded and Four Roses Small Batch are cut from similar cloth: two takes on high-rye bourbons, where the real difference is proof (100 vs. 90).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Old Grand-Dad Bonded | Four Roses Small Batch |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 63% corn, 27% rye, 10% malted barley | 75% corn, 20% rye, 5% malted barley |
| Age | 4 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) +10 proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$24 – $30 ~$8 less | ~$32 – $38 |
- Old Grand-Dad Bonded does not publish an official mash bill.
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Old Grand-Dad Bonded
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Four Roses Small Batch
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Old Grand-Dad Bonded Four Roses Small Batch
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 4/7 fruit: Old Grand-Dad Bonded 4 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch 7 out of 10
spice 8/6 spice: Old Grand-Dad Bonded 8 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch 6 out of 10
heat 6/4 heat: Old Grand-Dad Bonded 6 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch 4 out of 10
nuttiness 5/3 nuttiness: Old Grand-Dad Bonded 5 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch 3 out of 10
sweetness 5/6 sweetness: Old Grand-Dad Bonded 5 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch 6 out of 10
oak 5/5 oak: Old Grand-Dad Bonded 5 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Fruit character is what sets these apart.
- Old Grand-Dad Bonded: A bonded 100-proof high-rye bourbon for the price of a mixer, and one of the great bargains on the shelf. Cleaner and less overwhelming than the 114 while keeping the peppery rye backbone.
- 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 Grand-Dad Bonded if you want a bonded, high-rye workhorse at mixer money 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.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned, cocktails (Old Grand-Dad Bonded); neat, rocks, cocktails (Four Roses Small Batch).