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Woodford Reserve Double Oaked vs Four Roses Small Batch
Comparing Woodford Reserve Double Oaked and Four Roses Small Batch is a closer contest than it looks — both are high-rye bourbons, separated mainly by price (~$50 – $62 vs. ~$32 – $38).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Woodford Reserve Double Oaked | 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 | 90.4 proof (45.2% ABV) | 90 proof (45% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$50 – $62 | ~$32 – $38 ~$21 less |
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Woodford Reserve Double Oaked
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Four Roses Small Batch
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Woodford Reserve Double Oaked Four Roses Small Batch
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 9/5 oak: Woodford Reserve Double Oaked 9 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch 5 out of 10
sweetness 8/6 sweetness: Woodford Reserve Double Oaked 8 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch 6 out of 10
fruit 5/7 fruit: Woodford Reserve Double Oaked 5 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch 7 out of 10
spice 5/6 spice: Woodford Reserve Double Oaked 5 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch 6 out of 10
heat 4/4 heat: Woodford Reserve Double Oaked 4 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch 4 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Woodford Reserve Double Oaked 3 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Oak is doing most of the differentiating here.
- Woodford Reserve Double Oaked: A second barrel, deeply toasted, and the result is unashamedly dessert-like. Maple and caramelised sugar with heavy wood — polarising if you want restraint, excellent if you want sweetness.
- 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 Woodford Reserve Double Oaked if you want an overtly sweet, heavily oaked, dessert-leaning bourbon.
- Go with Four Roses Small Batch if you want a fruit-and-floral profile that stands apart from the usual caramel-and-oak template at a lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Woodford Reserve Double Oaked); neat, rocks, cocktails (Four Roses Small Batch).