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Wild Turkey 81 vs Four Roses Small Batch
Wild Turkey 81 and Four Roses Small Batch sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, classically built classic versus an old-guard, rye-forward classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Wild Turkey 81 | Four Roses Small Batch |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley | 75% corn, 20% rye, 5% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 81 proof (40.5% ABV) | 90 proof (45% ABV) +9 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$20 – $25 ~$13 less | ~$32 – $38 |
- Wild Turkey 81 does not publish an official mash bill.
- US shelf prices as of 2026-10; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Wild Turkey 81
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Four Roses Small Batch
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Wild Turkey 81 Four Roses Small Batch
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 3/7 fruit: Wild Turkey 81 3 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch 7 out of 10
spice 4/6 spice: Wild Turkey 81 4 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch 6 out of 10
heat 2/4 heat: Wild Turkey 81 2 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch 4 out of 10
oak 4/5 oak: Wild Turkey 81 4 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch 5 out of 10
nuttiness 2/3 nuttiness: Wild Turkey 81 2 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch 3 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Wild Turkey 81 6 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch 6 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Fruit character is what sets these apart.
- Wild Turkey 81: The same mash bill and No. 4 char as Wild Turkey 101, cut to 81 proof. Honey and toffee come through clearly, but the body and spice are much lighter.
- 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 Wild Turkey 81 if you want a lighter Wild Turkey built for mixing at a lower price point.
- Go with Four Roses Small Batch if you want a fruit-and-floral profile that stands apart from the usual caramel-and-oak template with slightly more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed highball, cocktails (Wild Turkey 81); neat, rocks, cocktails (Four Roses Small Batch).