Updated March 2026.
“Small batch” is marketing English, not a TTB class. The bottle is still bourbon under mash at least 51% corn, new charred oak, bottled at ≥80 proof. “Under $100” is a sticker. A 1.5-ounce pour is one NIAAA drink at 40% and 1.13 at 45%. We will not invent a 2026 ranking, a barrel-count rule, or an MSRP.
Related: craft bourbon, Four Roses Single Barrel vs Small Batch, bottled in bond.
What the words actually do
| Label language | What it has to mean |
|---|---|
| Bourbon / straight bourbon | 27 CFR 5.143; “straight” adds aging rules |
| Small batch | Not a legal batch size |
| Under $100 | Store tag — not a legal type |
| Four Roses Small Batch | A named SKU, not the definition of small batch |
A 750 mL 45% bottle is about 19 drinks. Four 90-proof pours are about 4.5 drinks. Pour math: whiskey drinks.
Sources
- TTB 27 CFR 5.143; 5.88. Four Roses Small Batch is a brand SKU on fourrosesbourbon.com (prior). Craft is not a TTB class.
- NIAAA December 2025.