Four Roses Small Batch Select 750ML

Four Roses Small Batch Select 750ML is a non-chill-filtered Kentucky straight bourbon bottled at 52% ABV (104 proof) in a 750ml bottle. This expression draws from six of Four Roses' ten proprietary bourbon recipes, each aged a minimum of six years, making it the most complex permanent offering in the distillery's core range. Four Roses earned American Whisky Distiller of the Year honors from Whisky Magazine in 2011, 2012, and 2013—a streak that underscored the distillery's consistency across its entire portfolio.

Quick Facts: ABV: 52% (104 Proof)  |  Origin: Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, USA  |  Minimum 6 Years Aged  |  Distillery: Four Roses

Production & Heritage

Four Roses operates out of its Spanish Mission–style distillery in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, a facility that has been producing bourbon since 1910. The distillery is distinctive in its use of two mashbills—the "B" recipe (60% corn, 35% rye, 5% malted barley) and the "E" recipe (75% corn, 20% rye, 5% malted barley)—paired with five proprietary yeast strains to yield ten unique bourbon recipes. Small Batch Select pulls from six of those ten recipes, blended to achieve a layered, rye-forward character without sacrificing balance. Aging takes place in single-story rack warehouses, where temperature variation stays within roughly 8 degrees Fahrenheit—far narrower than the 35-degree swings common in traditional multi-story rickhouses. This gentle, consistent maturation contributes to the smooth integration of flavors. The bourbon is bottled without chill filtration, preserving the full body and mouthfeel developed during barrel aging.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Fresh raspberries lead the nose, followed by warm clove and ground nutmeg. Beneath those spice tones, hints of candied fruit and light vanilla round out the aromatics.

Taste: The entry is bright with ripe apricot and mixed berries, giving the bourbon an immediate fruitiness that moves quickly into a mid-palate of creamy vanilla and soft caramel. Light oak tannins emerge toward the peak, adding structure without bitterness, while the higher-rye mashbill contributes a measured peppery warmth throughout.

Finish: Medium-long and refreshing, closing on spearmint and a lingering touch of cinnamon. The non-chill-filtered bottling keeps the texture rich and slightly oily as the spice slowly fades.

How to Drink Small Batch Select

At 104 proof, this bourbon rewards neat sipping—start without water and add a few drops to open up the fruit notes if the proof feels sharp. A single large ice cube also works well, tempering the alcohol while preserving mouthfeel. For cocktails, the berry-forward profile and higher proof make it a strong candidate for an Old Fashioned, where the fruit and spice stand up to bitters and sugar without disappearing. It also shines in a Boulevardier, where the rye spice cuts through the sweetness of sweet vermouth and Campari. A Whiskey Sour highlights the apricot and raspberry notes, creating a drink that feels more complex than the simple recipe suggests.

Best For

• Bourbon enthusiasts exploring how mashbill blending affects flavor complexity
• Gifting a whiskey drinker who already knows and trusts the Four Roses name
• After-dinner sipping alongside dessert or a cigar
• Building a home bar with a versatile, cocktail-proof bourbon

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Small Batch Select taste like? Small Batch Select leads with ripe berry and apricot fruit, transitions through vanilla and light oak, and finishes on spearmint and cinnamon. The non-chill-filtered bottling at 104 proof gives it a rich, slightly oily mouthfeel with notable warmth.

How does Small Batch Select compare to Woodford Reserve? Both are approachable, well-balanced Kentucky bourbons, and fans of one will generally enjoy the other. Small Batch Select runs hotter at 104 proof versus Woodford Reserve's 90.4 proof, and its six-recipe blend and non-chill filtration deliver a fuller body and more layered spice character.

Is Small Batch Select good for sipping neat? Yes—its complex blend of six recipes and non-chill-filtered bottling make it one of the more rewarding neat pours in the Four Roses lineup. A few drops of water can help tame the 104-proof heat and open up the fruit aromatics.

Where is Small Batch Select made? It is produced at the Four Roses Distillery in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, which has been distilling bourbon on the same site since 1910. The distillery's single-story rack warehouses, unusual among major bourbon producers, provide a uniquely consistent aging environment.

What foods pair well with Small Batch Select? Smoked pork ribs complement the bourbon's warm spice and fruit; dark chocolate truffles mirror its vanilla and berry sweetness; sharp aged cheddar contrasts the caramel notes; pecan pie echoes the toasted oak; and grilled stone fruit like peaches amplifies the apricot character on the palate.

What sizes does Small Batch Select come in? The standard release is a 750ml bottle, which is the most widely available size for this expression.

Is Small Batch Select worth the price? Small Batch Select positions as a premium expression within Four Roses' permanent range, sitting above the standard Small Batch in both proof and complexity. Its six-recipe blend, minimum six-year aging, and non-chill filtration deliver a level of depth that competes well against bourbons at or above its price tier.

Why Small Batch Select?

No other bourbon in the Four Roses core lineup uses as many of the distillery's ten recipes—six distinct bourbon profiles blended to create a single bottling. That multi-recipe approach, combined with non-chill filtration and a minimum six-year age statement, produces a bourbon with demonstrable depth that doesn't rely on barrel-proof intensity to make an impression. The single-story warehouse aging, with its remarkably tight 8-degree temperature variance, contributes to a gentler maturation curve that you can taste in the integrated tannins and smooth oak influence. For drinkers looking for a Kentucky bourbon that balances craft-level complexity with the consistency of a major distillery's resources, this expression delivers on both counts.