Compare
Woodford Reserve vs Four Roses Small Batch Select
Woodford Reserve and Four Roses Small Batch Select are cut from similar cloth: two takes on high-rye bourbons, where the real difference is proof (90.4 vs. 104).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Woodford Reserve | 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 | 90.4 proof (45.2% ABV) | 104 proof (52% ABV) +14 proof |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$35 – $42 ~$22 less | ~$55 – $65 |
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Woodford Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Four Roses Small Batch Select
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Woodford Reserve Four Roses Small Batch Select
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 6/8 fruit: Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch Select 8 out of 10
heat 4/6 heat: Woodford Reserve 4 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10
spice 6/7 spice: Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch Select 7 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10
oak 6/6 oak: Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Woodford Reserve 3 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch Select 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The fruit-versus-grain contrast drives this one.
- Woodford Reserve: The most widely poured premium bourbon in America, and a genuinely well-made one. Dried fruit and cocoa over a balanced 18% rye mash, finished smooth enough to please almost anyone.
- 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 Woodford Reserve if you want a polished, widely available crowd-pleaser that never puts a foot wrong at a lower price point.
- 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 more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Woodford Reserve); neat, rocks (Four Roses Small Batch Select).