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:
– 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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