Whiskey Review: Four Roses Small Batch Bourbon

We’re diving into one of the staples of the bourbon shelf: Four Roses Small Batch. It’s been a while since we’ve had anything from Four Roses on the podcast, and this expression sits just above their entry-level Yellow Label offering. Where Yellow Label blends all ten of Four Roses’ proprietary bourbon recipes, Small Batch narrows it down to just four: OBSK, OESK, OBSO, and OESO.

Four Roses is known for its high-rye and low-rye mash bills and five different yeast strains, which combine to create those ten unique recipes. Small Batch is bottled at 90 proof, up from the 80 proof of Yellow Label, and carries no age statement, though most estimates put it around 6–7 years.

With a shelf price around $37, it competes directly with fan favorites like Elijah Craig and Cooper’s Craft 100. Is it worth your money? Let’s find out.

This review is taken from our podcast episode "Fight Club (1999) / Four Roses Small Batch Bourbon." Click the link to listen to this review in audio format.

Nose

Brad: This is a very traditional bourbon nose. It’s a little bit corn-heavy, but not overly sweet. There’s a corn syrupiness, caramel, and vanilla. The uniqueness comes with a really light citrus note. Overall, just a straight-line, really nice bourbon nose. I’m going to give it a 7/10.

Bob: I’m getting a weird note on this that I’ve only gotten a couple times: just a slight hint of onion, like everything bagel seasoning. Underneath that, though, there’s a lot of sourdough bread. It doesn’t smell yeasty or youthful—just baked sourdough. I’m also getting almost egg nog notes—custardy vanilla. I like it a lot, except that I keep thinking of an Arby’s beef and cheddar with those little onions on the bun. Despite that, I’ll give the nose a 7.5/10.

Taste

Brad: It’s caramelly. There’s peanuts and vanilla. The citrus turned into a bit of a summer fruit, kind of a melon vibe. Really pleasant, refreshing bourbon. I’m giving it a 7.5/10.

Bob: Caramel is a great note here. It reminds me of a Werther’s Original, just a ton of caramel with a good bit of spice. This is black pepper heavy for me. I’m also getting some of those melon notes. It tips a little bitter toward the back of the palate, but I’ll ding that on the finish instead. This is significantly better than I remember. I’m coming up to an 8/10 on the palate.

Finish

Brad: The finish doesn’t quite sour for me, it just kind of dissipates. There’s pepper, oak, caramel that sticks around, and it returns to its corn base. Medium-length finish with a nice Kentucky hug. I’ll give it a 7/10.

Bob: It tips bitter, gets more herbal, and there’s some barrel char in a bad way. That bitterness pulls it down for me. I’m giving the finish a 6.5/10.

Balance

Bob: I don’t think the bitterness on the finish is enough to ding it here. Overall, it’s pretty well balanced. I’ll go 7.5/10.

Brad: Same here. It’s a pleasant experience. Not incredibly complex, but some good flavors mixed in with the classics make it relatively well balanced. 7.5/10.

Value

Brad: In Ohio, you’re spending about $37 on this bottle. That’s $36.99, so $40 after tax. Not a bad value. I’ll give it a 6.5/10. There’s other stuff in that $35–40 range I might recommend first, but this isn’t unfairly priced.

Bob: The market has just risen. When we started the podcast, Four Roses Single Barrel was around $38, and Small Batch was cheaper. Now this has come up to take its place. If it were $25–27, I’d say that’s right in line. But for $37, I think there are better options like Elijah Craig or Cooper’s Craft 100. I’m giving it a 6/10.

Final Scores

Bob: That brings me out to a 35.5/50.

Brad: Same for me, 35.5/50. And just to say, $30 in 2019 is worth about $38 today with inflation. So this is technically right in line.

Bob: I don’t care what inflation says, it should still be a $30 bottle. That’s why we’re both coming out to a 71/100 or 35.5/50 on average.

This is a mild thumbs up from us. If you’re a Four Roses fan, this is a solid baseline pour, better than Yellow Label, and a decent step before moving up the ladder. While we’re not shouting from the rooftops about it, Four Roses Small Batch is a pleasant, nutty, vanilla-rich bourbon that delivers a steady experience. At 35/50, it lands right on the threshold where we typically recommend trying a pour at a bar or even picking up a bottle, especially if you can find it on sale.