Tag: Four Roses Bourbon

Four Roses Single Barrel Review

Posted on by whiskeyfortheages

Hannah’s Four Roses Single Barrel Review

Original review written September 2, 2021

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

It’s a solid pour and easy sipper with enough complexity to be fun, but enough mellowness that just sitting with it is perfectly enjoyable. 89/100

VITALS:
Four Roses Single Barrel Review

– Made In: Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, USA
– Distiller: Four Roses Distillery
– Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey; Single Barrel
– Age: nas
– Mash Bill: Corn=60%; Rye=35%; Malted Barley=5%
– Casks: Char#3/#4
– Barrel Entry Proof: 120
– ABV: 50% (100 proof)
– Warehouse: RN
– Barrel: 12-5M
– Price: $45.95 USD in Idaho

Visit fourrosesbourbon.com for more information

ENJOYMENT METHOD:

I enjoyed the juice neat from a Glencairn with father and fellow Whiskey for the Ages reviewer, Brian.

Check out his review of this bourbon here!

SETTING:

I picture sitting at the edge of a swamp with Four Roses Single Barrel. The weather is warm, the air clings loosely around your frame and grass waves back and forth as wind and water move through it. It’s relaxing, and it is utterly peaceful and fulfilling, and exactly what you need at the end of a long day.

Photo by Jon L on Unsplash

NOSE:

This smells of roasted corn on the first draw with new leather and some black pepper. There is some sweetness that comes from a bit of vanilla custard and maybe a little caramel and brown sugar. The corn definitely seems like the hero here. Floral notes are here but they are dark and seem like a dark fruit more than anything. Currants and raisins and even a blueberry preserve/jam pop and make the whole nose unique to other bourbons I have had. Otherwise, the nose is quite gentle with little alcoholic burn and just enough oak to assist in mellowing it out even more.

PALATE:
Four Roses Single Barrel Review

– Mouth Feel: Oily and very soft all throughout the palate. It is the definition of an easy sipper with no surprises.
– Balance: Solid. I wouldn’t say I’m necessarily wowed, but it is certainly well-blended and just works.
– Visual: Honey in color, I find a broken crown and no legs.

– Taste: The palate is quite soft with some of the dark fruits from the nose coming through at first, only to be softened even more by dusty corn. Additional sweetness comes from a bit of graham cracker and some light vanilla. It all gets slightly brighter with some citrus zest which also makes it a touch bitter, but not offensively so. There could also be some hazelnuts and floral herbs that contribute to the slight bitterness, but they are very subdued behind the citrus zest. I can’t find much in the way of spice beyond some rye and general brininess that makes the mouth water.

The wood is very mild as is the alcohol, which is impressive for a 100 proof. I can let this sit on my palate and let the wood grow into a little more than sawdust and the alcohol mellow to almost nothing. When I aggravate the whiskey with a Kentucky chew, raisins come through with some bitter hazelnuts, and still a very mild alcohol punch. It’s certainly original and intriguing to the point that I’m repeating the process a few times.

FINISH:

– Lasting Power: Short-medium. I get a tickle of heat at the back of the palate and a bit of flavor coating the throat but it doesn’t linger terribly long.
– Between Sips: A simple syrup with some sweet oak sit between sips with a hint of floral rose.

– No More: An herbal quality is starting to emerge the further I get into the glass, taking over the bitter component, but still letting the sweetness talk. I find this additional complexity refreshing and welcome, and look forward to how it continues to grow as I continue to sip.

The empty Glencairn is a rich and seasoned oak, that is a perfect finish to this four. Very happy.

WORTH THE PRICE?

Do I think there are better bourbons at this price? Yes. Do I think this is still worth $45? Also yes. I don’t know if I’d call this a great value bourbon, but I do think it is solidly priced, and you get exactly what you paid for. This is the kind of bourbon to have an experience with and/or just sit with in some peace and quiet. Finding a whiskey that can do both is always a win, and at $45, you can’t go wrong.

FOUR ROSES SINGLE BARREL REVIEW RATING: 89/100

Click to see Hannah’s rating process

Click 89/100 to access other whiskeys with this rating.
To access other whiskies from this distillery, click Four Roses.

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Four Roses Single Barrel OBSQ Review

Posted on by whiskeyfortheages

Hannah’s Four Roses Single Barrel OBSQ Review

Original review written April 30, 2020

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

With only 160 barrels released as a part of Idaho’s Four Roses Private Select, it’ll be sad when this is gone, as the balance between spices, fruit, sugars and wood is wonderful and keeps me coming back for more. 93/100

VITALS:
Four Roses Single Barrel OBSQ Review

– Made In: Lawrenceburg, KY, USA
– Distillery: Four Roses Distillery
– Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey; Single Barrel; Private Select
– Age: 9 yrs. 6 mo.
– Mash Bill: Corn-60%; Rye=35%; Malted Barley=5%
– Casks: Char #3 and #4
– Barrel Entry Proof: 120
– ABV: 62% (124 proof)
– OBSQ: Selected by Idaho State Liquor Division
– O: Production at the Four Roses Distillery in Lawrenceburg, KY
– B: Mash Bill “B”, Low Corn/High Rye
– S: Straight Whiskey Designation
– Q: Yeast Strain “Q”
– Warehouse: JE
– Barrel: 15-4L (approximately 160 bottles)
– Price: $69.95 USD in Idaho

Visit fourrosesbourbon.com for more information

ENJOYMENT METHOD:

I enjoyed the juice neat from a Glencairn glass with father and fellow Whiskey for the Ages reviewer, Brian.

Check out his review of this bourbon here!

SETTING:

This is the perfect pour at a Thanksgiving dinner with every flavor profile of Four Roses capable of pairing with some part of the dinner, from the main course to the pumpkin pie dessert. It’s an easy pour that can only enhance the (hopefully) peaceful atmosphere.

Photo by 🇨🇭 Claudio Schwarz | @purzlbaum on Unsplash

NOSE:

This has a surprisingly gentle nose for the proof with a fruity, sweet, wine tannin essence being there to greet me. The fruit seems dark, but it’s trick to distinguish further. Underneath it, however, is strong grain – likely rye. Other spices include cinnamon, black pepper, and even salt and cloves. Despite these strong spices, the alcohol still isn’t as stinging as some other bourbons I’ve had. With these spices comes dark brown sugar, chocolate and maple syrup.

There is a heavy and seasoned oak underneath it all, making for a spicy, yet balanced nose overall that is warm and inviting.

PALATE:
Four Roses Single Barrel OBSQ Review

– Mouth Feel: Very oily and smooth, but with a sawdust quality to promote chewing.
– Balance: Lots of flavors here, but the blend is seamless and – dare I say – flawless.
– Visual: Mahogany and henna in color, there are evenly spaced thin legs with a short-lived crown.

– Taste: The alcohol, while subdued on the nose, is immediately apparent on the sip, backed by rye and clove. Behind this, I can detect fresh cherries that are even accompanied by cherry blossoms, though the cherries themselves seem more maraschino in flavor.

The dark, sugary scents from the nose aren’t there so much anymore, instead replaced by a dark vanilla. Along with the classic cherry and vanilla, there’s subtle almonds that appear at the back of the palate. (I’ll be honest: it’s possible my brain senses almonds falsely just because such flavor combinations are too perfect to not look for a little bit when one half of the equation presents itself so nicely.)

The wood from the nose is still here also, being like sawdust as I keep having the urge to chew. It’s quite strong, and I do enjoy that depth.

When I do partake in the Kentucky chew, rye, black pepper and salt bloom, followed by a bit by cherries and strangely, an apricot jam at the back of the sip. With it comes a GREAT deal of saliva, a bit of burn, and the urge to repeat.

FINISH:

– Lasting Power: Medium and relatively clean. I actually feel a little let down at the lack of long-lasting warmth with flavors and a proof like this.
– Between Sips: Apricots and cherries linger a little bit, with a drop of alcohol burn that disappears too quickly.

– No More: This continues to mellow out as I go further into the glass, with cherries, vanilla and rye continuing to be the dominating flavors, while other aforementioned tastes seem to have dwindled a lot.

The empty Glencairn has a definitive woody bite to it, along with a cinnamon warming sensation. This could easily be a candle.

WORTH THE PRICE?

At about $70, I’d say it’s worth it. Definitely not $80, but given it’s rarity and balance, it’s a great addition to the bunker, especially for those already fond of the distillery’s productions.

RATING: 93/100

Click to see Hannah’s rating process

Click 93/100 to access other whiskeys with this rating.
To access other whiskies from this distillery, click Four Roses.

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Brian’s Four Roses Small Batch

Posted on by whiskeyfortheages

Brian’s Four Roses Small Batch Review

originally reviewed 19-December-2017

FOUR ROSES SMALL BATCH REVIEW:

The spice and caramel on the nose carry through to the palate and a nice amount of vanilla shines through as well.   I return often to this enchanting and delectable nectar as I enjoy Four Roses Small Batch’s complexity and priced in the low $30 (USD) range, this bourbon is a regular in my go-to “Daily Sipper” rotation.  I highly recommend it.

FOUR ROSES SMALL BATCH INFORMATION:
Four Roses Small Batch Review

– Region: Kentucky, USA
– Distiller: Four Roses, Lawrenceburg, KY
– Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey – Small Batch
– Mash Bill: Combination of “B” & “E”
– Yeast strains of: O-B-S-K, O-B-S-O, O-E-S-K, and O-E-S-O
– Casks: New Charred Oak
– Barrel Char: #3/#4
– Age: nas (believed to be about 4-6 yrs)
– Barrel Entry Proof: 120
– ABV: 45% (90 proof)
– Price $33.95 USD in Idaho

Learn more at https://fourrosesbourbon.com/

Note: Four Roses is a unique bourbon distillery.  The following information can be found on the Four Roses website in more detail.  I suggest a visit.  Four Roses has 10 different bourbon recipes.  The 10 recipes are based on different yeast strains and mash bills.

Four Roses uses two different mash bills, identified by the letters “B” and “E”.  Mash Bill “B” is 60% Corn, 35% Rye, and 5% Malted Barley.  Mash Bill “E” is 75% Corn, 20% Rye, and 5% Malted Barley.

The distillery also uses five different yeast strains, identified by the letters “F”, “K”, “O”, “Q”, and “V”.
The ten Four Roses recipes have a four digit identification code, where the first letter is always O, the second letter is the mash bill, the third letter is always S, and the fourth letter is the yeast strain … where “F” provides herbal notes, “K” offers up a slight spiciness, “O” enhances rich fruit, “Q” gives off a floral essence and “V” promotes delicate fruit.
With this in mind, a recipe labeled OBSV would be a “high rye” mash bill using with a slight fruitiness.

REVIEW SETTING:

For the evaluation, I shared the juice neat from Glencairn glasses with my daughter and fellow Whiskey for the Ages reviewer Hannah. 

Check out her review for this bourbon here!

FOUR ROSES SMALL BATCH NOSE:

Spiciness definitely comes through on the nose but big caramel and vanilla wins over as it wafts from the glass. The initial aroma is followed by subtle oak and flowery light fruit.

FOUR ROSES SMALL BATCH PALATE:

Caramelly brown sugar and vanilla overtake any oakiness apparent on the nose on first sip. When the nectar lingers in the mouth, peppery rye and sweet dry corn add to the pleasurable experience.

Balance, Body, Feel and Look:
Four Roses Small Batch’s oily mouth feel blends the spice nicely with the sweet.  It is well balanced and full.  The liquid hangs inside the Glencairn then long legs slip back into burnt amber pool.

FOUR ROSES SMALL BATCH FINISH:

Overall Four Roses Small Batch is tremendously tasty and its oakiness is well blended with warming caramel, toffee and sweet grain alcohol and finishes with a medium close.

FOUR ROSES SMALL BATCH FINISHING STRENGTH:

Medium

MY FOUR ROSES SMALL BATCH RATING: 91/100

Will I seek out this whiskey in the future? Yes
Click to read Brian’s scoring process.

Click 91/100 to access other whiskies with this score.
To access other whiskies from this distillery, click Four Roses.

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