Four Roses Limited Edition Bourbon Elliott's Select (2016)

So good, just so good. This is all Four Roses' OESK recipe, which is arguably the bourbon community's favorite variation. Because of the use of multiple single barrels, the proof varied from bottle to bottle between 100 and 120 proof. I'm not exactly sure the proof of the sample I tried, although judging by its lack of significant heat, I'd estimate it was in that 50-53% range rather than the higher end. This is (or was, since it's no longer widely available in stores) a stunning bourbon, and the best I've had from Four Roses. The nose exhibits the clarity and potency of flavor that comes only when everything -- distillation, aging, selection -- goes right. Vanilla latte, coconut, strawberry, butterscotch, banana crepe, and oak all have their turn. Then the palate turns to a rich breakfast spread: maple syrup drizzled over vanilla french toast, banana caramel crepes, and a few flecks of chocolate (which I find to be a signature of the OESK recipe). The age manifests as a sweet, lightly spicy oak that provides the frame for the other flavors. Elliott's Select finishes with a balanced conclusion of oak, rye spice, peach, apricot, and honey. This bourbon was $125 at retail, and multiples of that on the secondary market now. If I'd had a chance to buy this at retail, I'd have purchased 2 or 3 bottles.