Tag: Whiskey for the Ages

Brian’s Four Roses Small Batch Select Review:

reviewed 01-September-2023

FOUR ROSES SMALL BATCH SELECT BOURBON REVIEW:

Four Roses Small Batch Select (Four Roses Select) offers a balanced aroma and flavor profile of fruit, spice, sweet, and wood. On the first draw, my nose found fruit blossoms, roasted sweet corn, and hints of mint, followed by a medley of fruits, spices, and sweet elements. Most of these aromas pass along  to the palate. Even at 104 Proof, this bourbon offers a silky mouthfeel with only a slight tongue tickle. The finish is long-lasting, and has a mix of dark fruits, spices, along with a touch of sweetness, and fades away on vanilla, caramel, and seasoned oak.

FOUR ROSES SMALL BATCH SELECT VITAL STATS:

Category: Limited Release Small Batch Bourbon
Region: Lawrenceburg, KY
Distillery: Four Roses
Recipe Blend: OBSV (adds delicate fruit and rye); OBSK (adds rye and baking spice); OBSF (adds delicate rye and mint); OESV (adds delicate fruit and caramel); OESK (adds baking spice; OESF (adds light grain and mint)
Yeast Strains: V (adds delicate fruit notes); K (adds slight spiciness); F (adds herbal notes)
Mash Bill B: 60% corn, 35% rye, 5% malted barley
Mash Bill E: 75% corn, 20% rye, 5% malted barley
Barrel Char: unpublished
Barrel entry proof: unpublished
Age: nas (said to be about 6-7 years)
Filtration: Non-chill-filtered
ABV: 52% (104 Proof)
Fair Price: $75.47 (BoozApp, August 2023)
Paid: $62.45 (Oregon, Summer 2023)

THE FOUR ROSES RECIPES DEFINED

Each recipe name is composed of four letters (I.e. OBSV) identifying its production facility, mash bill, distillation process and yeast strain.

The Recipes

O – The first letter is always O, designating the distillation at Four Roses Distillery
B, E – This letter designates the mash bill. Each has a different ratio of corn, rye, and malted barley
S – The third letter is always S, designated it as straight whiskey
F, K, O, Q, V – This letter identifies the proprietary yeast strain. Each creates unique flavors.

Learn more at Four Roses Bourbon.

ENJOYMENT METHOD FOR THE REVIEW:

A pour of about four ounces, was made into my Glencairn. The liquid rested for about 30 minutes before the first sip was taken. The pour was made on Day 1 of the 2023 30 Bourbons in 30 Days Challenge.

FOUR ROSES SMALL BATCH SELECT NOSE:

Four Roses Select has an expansive aroma profile to entice the senses. At first inhale, after the nip of alcohol subsides, my nose was greeted with a bit of barrel tannin then fruit tree blossoms came in to create an inviting and fragrant lightness. I sensed roasted sweet corn and a hint of mint along with ripe red raspberry, fresh cut tart apple, cherry and a bit of apricot. As the fruity aromas mingle, cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg sprinkled with white pepper and rye counter the sweetness. Then comes vanilla, followed by simple syrup and caramelized sugar and honey. Beneath this sweetness lies a subtle undercurrent of pineyness and toasted oak, along with the freshness of petricor which adds welcome earthy tones.

FOUR ROSES SMALL BATCH SELECT PALATE:

Many of the aromas sensed on the nose pass through to the palate. Four Roses Select starts dry and warm as herbal dusty grain blends with sweet apple flavored pipe tobacco. The fruit train continues, as red berries, soft apples, apricots, and orange marmalade welcome cinnamon, ginger, black pepper, and rye. The spices contribute a gentle, tingling heat and help blend in vanilla, brown sugar caramel rich and soft honey. I taste subtle pinenuts and lightly toasted oak which gives each sip woody depth. The fruity undertones, and touch of spice along with the woody sweetness makes this a truly satisfying sip.

Balance, Body, Feel and Look:
Four Roses Select is solid, well blended and nicely balanced. Initial sips are a bit prickly but easy to hold as the liquid feels silky in my mouth and makes me salivate. When swirled in the glass, a thin crown forms yet after each sip extremely long clinging legs stretch from the rim of the glass all the way to the auburn colored pool.

FOUR ROSES SMALL BATCH SELECT FINISH

Four Roses Small Batch Select offers an extremely long and warming finish. Again, I sense barrel tannins, dark fruits along with the same cinnamon, black pepper, and rye. As the sensations fade, the memory of light vanilla, dark caramel, honey blend into roasted pecans, seasoned oak, toasted wood, apple pipe tobacco, and old, dry leather. And when the last dram is downed, sweet buttery vanilla caramel, and dry seasoned oak waft from the empty Glencairn.

MY RATING: 92/00

Will I buy this whiskey again? YES
When found on store shelves at retail, this is a recommended BUY.
^{Click to read Brian’s scoring process.}

Click 92/100 to access other whiskies given this score.
To see other reviews from this brand, click Four Roses Distillery.

WHISKEY TRAITS, FLAVOR NOTES AND PROFILE GRAPH:

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