Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch Bourbon (2020)

Nose: fruity notes came through first with this, strawberry, raspberry sno come, and something tropical like mango. Sweet vanilla, savory oak, and a hint of cinnamon. Palate: creamy vanilla and bright cinnamon spice. Finish: touch of that mango note, vanilla, spice, and this tart tobacco note. Crazy complex and an easy drinker. Good spring time bourbon.

Thanks Zach

Four Roses is one of my favorite Kentucky bourbon distillers. The regular Single Barrel hits the sweet spot for me in terms of flavors, proof, and price. I like the higher-rye mash bills that they use. I have an open bottle of the Single Barrel Barrel Strength that I poured next to this one to compare. The sample of the LESB was generously provided by the venerable @PBMichiganWolverine The color of the LESB is quite noticeably darker. On the nose, the LESB actually doesn't distinguish itself from the SB as much as I expected. It's a punchier version of the SB, and perhaps shows more sweetness, balanced with wood and a little rye herbalness. The palate is a different story. Vanilla, buttery caramel, cherry, clove, mint, slightly herbal. Great balance. In comparison, the SBBS I have open (which I think is pretty good) comes across as flat, bitter, and unbalanced. Really pleased to have had the opportunity to try this one. Big thanks, Pranay!

I finally got to try this, after having it open for over an year and sharing samples with several folks here. For whatever reasons, I just never got around to it, and then totally forgot about it. It was just recently that I finally remembered I have this bottle open, while having some family over for Christmas and talking about Blanton’s. I remembered I still have this, and suggested all to try it, that it might be better than Blanton’s. We tried this alongside Bardstown Plantation rum finished, and a Wolves 2022 rye /hop whiskey. The Bardstown was the favorite, but all agreed this was much better than a Blanton’s. My take is that this is as classic of a well aged bourbon profile that you can get. Vanilla, caramel, oak, and a bit of cherry. It doesn’t live up to the previous releases ( my favorite being 2014 and 2016), but if you can buy this under $200, it’s much better than most of the things in the market. I wouldn’t go hunting for it, but well worth a pour or a reasonable asking price.

Borderline 4.5