Whisky: Four Roses Small Batch Select Bourbon

Producer: Kirin Brewery Company

Distillery: Four Roses

Whisky Type: A blend of Straight Bourbons

Two Mash Bills: A blend of 75% corn, 20% rye, 5% malted barley and 60% corn, 35% rye, 5% malted barley

Age: At least 6 years

Region: Lawrenceburg, Kentucky

ABV: 52%

Aged in Cask: New charred American oak

Price Range: $$

Four Roses is a distillery built in 1910 and located in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky. The Four Roses story started with Paul Jones Jr., who trademarked the brand in 1888 with the distillery changing ownership several times, from Seagram in 1943 until 2002, with Japanese Brewery company Kirin as the current owner.

Four Roses distillery is famous for its two mash bills and five yeast strains to create ten different flavor profiles for its bourbons.
Mashbill E: 75% corn, 20% rye, and 5% malted barley and
Mashbill B: 60% corn, 35% rye, and 5% malted barley

Yeast strains and flavors:
V for delicate fruit
K for slight spice
O for rich fruit
Q for floral essence
F for herbal notes

Four Roses Bourbon has a four-letter code to indicate the composition of its recipes. For example, the OBSV recipe stands for:

O for Four Roses distillery
B for the high rye mash bill
S for straight whiskey (at least two years of age)
V for delicate fruit.

Tasting notes for Four Roses Small Batch Select Straight Bourbon

Nose: A classic bourbon nose with hints of vanilla, cinnamon, fruit, and oak spices.

Palate: Notes of fruit, caramel, vanilla, and wood. The experience you get on the nose translates the same way to the palate. There is a good balance between these flavors, and the proof level (104%) brings them out.

Finish: Medium finish with the same flavors remaining in your palate. Very enjoyable.

Conclusion: A bourbon with fruit and vanilla flavors with light oak notes and spices is consistent from the nose to the finish. Expect a creamy and syrupy mouthfeel with this blend of straight bourbons.

Made from a combination of six Four Roses recipes, each aged for at least six years. Non-chill filtered and bottled at 104 proof (52% ABV) and selected from multiple warehouses. Recipes: OBSV, OBSK, OESV, OESK, OBSF, and OESF.

The Whisky Advocate ranked this whisky as the #3 whisky of the year in 2019.

Check more information on Four Roses here. Check more whiskey reviews here.

Score: 3.5/5 ⭐

Legend

$50 or less $

$51-$100 $$

$101-$150 $$$

$151 or more $$$$