Brian’s Four Roses Single Barrel Idaho Private Select – OBSQ (2019) Review
30-April-2020
FOUR ROSES SINGLE BARREL IDAHO PRIVATE SELECT – OBSQ (2019) REVIEW:
There are many expressions of Four Roses Single Barrel – OBSQ and in 2019, the Idaho State Liquor Department purchased a barrel from Four Roses for distribution to its patrons. I feel the limited availability Four Roses SiB ID PS – OBSQ (2019) bourbon would best be enjoyed with a group of seasoned bourbon drinkers. It was challenging to evaluate. The nose and palate are subtle and a lively conversation would be most enjoyable as each person discovers new aromas and flavors.
FOUR ROSES SINGLE BARREL IDAHO PRIVATE SELECT – OBSQ INFORMATION:
Selected By: Idaho State Liquor Division in 2019
Region: Lawrenceburg, KY, USA
Distiller: Four Roses
OBSQ Key:
▪ 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”
Mash Bill: 60% corn, 35% rye, and 5% malted barley
Barrel Char: #3/#4
Barrel Proof: 120
Warehouse: J (East side of Rickhouse)
Barrel Number: 15-4L, yielding approximately 160 bottles
Age: 9 Years 6 Months
ABV: 62% (124 Proof)
Price: $69.96 USD
ENJOYMENT METHOD:
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!
NOSE:
As I bring the Glencairn to my nose, brown sugar wafts through the air. When I breath in, a nip of strong alcohol and faint wine tannins dance with fruit tree blossoms as faint, old sweet corn sensations mix with an indistinguishable fruitiness. So well blended, it is hard to say which fruit is at the forefront. In the end, tart green caramel apples and a faint but fresh citrus essence speaks loudest. While the flora is complex, allspice, ginger, black and white pepper and abundant rye abound. The dram seems sweet, but not overpoweringly so as brown sugared pastry, cocoa and light vanilla, blend into buttery toffeed chocolate. There is an earthiness here as well; a strong woodiness of green, fresh cut oak compliment the barrel haze and aromas of newly polished leather boots.
PALATE:
This expression of Four Roses SiB – OBSQ doesn’t drink like a 124 proof whiskey. There is an alcohol bite, but it doesn’t overpower. When held in the mouth, my salivary glands kick into overdrive as many of the aromas come through: herbal notes of roasted corn and the unknown fruitiness, but now more leathery … my brain says unsweetened dried apple but I’m unsure. Spices of ginger, black pepper and rye nearly overshadow the vanilla, brown sugar, dark molasses and chocolate toffee as strong fresh cut oak, hazy barrel char and earthy leather push through. While I cannot say I taste peanuts (or nuts of any kind), this whiskey would elevate a chunky peanut butter sandwich to amazing heights.
Balance, Body, Feel and Look:
Four Roses SiB – OBSQ is a solidly balanced bourbon. It does give the tongue and mouth quite a tickle when held, but it is still viscous and oily. In the Glencairn, its droplets hang a moment before dropping in long clinging legs to the mahogany pool.
FINISH:
The dram has a slightly warm and medium finish. The herbalness is gone but a sensation of dark fruit leather is more pronounced as cinnamon heat, black pepper and rye linger. Memories of buttery carameled apple pie compliment the earthy haze of oak barrel char. When emptied, the Glencairn smells of oak, cinnamon and sweet evaporated milk butter sauce.
MY RATING: 88/100
Will I seek out this whiskey in the future? Yes
Click to read Brian’s scoring process.
Click 88/100 to access other whiskies with this score.
To access other whiskies from this distillery, click Four Roses.
WHISKEY TRAITS AND FLAVOR NOTES AND PROFILE GRAPH:
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