Four Roses 135th Anniversary Limited Edition Small Batch Bourbon (2023)

The nose is stunningly smooth and full of vanilla and charred oak with a perfect balance of spearmint and earthy rye. Creme brulee and baking spices live in the background making it very inviting. The palate is smooth and gently spicy with a wave of baking spices and earthy rye splashing all over the mouth. Its got an intense oakiness that is almost savory. Its rich and chewy with vanilla notes in the background adding an incredible smoothness. The age really shines here in just how intense and rich the flavors are. The finish is long and spicy with endless flavor to be found with each chew. This is nothing short of amazing and really shows off the best of Four Roses. All the flavors just linger and linger, seemingly never fading away.

I’m not a huge fan of Four Roses. To me, this year LE doesn’t seem much different than the 2020 release. I feel like the nose is better than the palate like all Four Roses I’ve tried. The crème brûlée sweetness on the nose doesn’t translate to the palate which is ashame. It’s sweet but not like vanilla sweet. There’s a hint of mintiness in the finish. All in all, not bad but not really my favorite. But if you’re a Roses fan, you’ll probably enjoy very much. Addendum: Re-tasted past the shoulder and it has opened up well. It’s developed a fuller and richer flavor while maintaining its sweetness. The spice is still there with a nice long finish. Definitely better!

A familiar Four Roses perfume greets the nose, filled with high esters, warm toffee, woody tonality, baking spice and a rich grain bill. Quite inviting. At 112 proof, it is still quite drinkable with the myriad of flavors all tightly bound into a neat package. The mouthfeel is medium-heavy, with a lot of the high notes dominating the overall approach. After a half a minute, more of the inher0ent flavors come out to play. A healthy dose of oak and char lead the parade followed by lighter notes of tobacco, brown bread, dark molasses, roasted coffee bean, and a touch of burnt caramel. The finish is long and fades out at a steady pace. A very nice anniversary expression that offers a rare chance to try a unique blending of venerable bourbons.