A little background

Four Roses Small Batch is bottled at 90 proof and comes in at a retail of around $30. It is distilled in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky by Four Roses Distillery LLC. Four Roses uses two distinct mashbills and five yeast strains which lead to the ten different recipes that the company produces. Mashbill E is 75% corn, 20% rye, and 5% malted barley while mashbill B is 60% corn, 35% rye, and 5% malted barley. The five yeast strains are named V (delicate fruit), O (rich fruit), F (herbal notes), K (slight spice), and Q (floral essence). The letter “O” in each recipe denotes Four Roses Distillery while the “S” in each recipe denotes Straight Whiskey. The resulting 10 recipes are named OBSK, OBSQ, OBSO, OBSF, OBSV, OESK, OESQ, OESO, OESF, and OESV. Four Rose Small Batch is a mixture of 4 recipes (OBSK, OESK, OBSO, and OESO). The average batch size for Four Roses Small Batch is around 250 barrels, and the barrels used range from 6 to 8 years of age for an average of around 7 years.

(Tasted neat from a Glencairn Glass)

Color

Medium Amber

Nose

The nose has notes of dark cherry, cinnamon, caramel, and vanilla to go along with the earthy and floral undertones.

Palate

The palate is very refreshing with notes of caramel, cherry, and a mild cinnamon to go along with the earthy and floral undertones. The bourbon is fairly complex with its combination of sweet and earthy flavors and has a nice finish for only being 90 proof. It has a medium viscosity and coats the entire palate. When water is added the flavors hold up great. This would be superb for a cocktail.

Finish

The finish follows the nose and palate with notes of caramel and spice as well as lingering earthy and floral notes.

In conclusion

For $30, this is a fantastic bourbon. It has a unique combination of flavors while still maintaining the true essence of bourbon. I would recommend picking up a bottle either to sip neat to use in a cocktail! This offering is versatile and fits great into the Four Roses line of products.