Four Roses Private Selection Single Barrel Barrel Strength Bourbon (OESQ)

12/22, 10 yrs 9 mos, 116.8 proof-Beautiful spice nose, strong clove with a touch of cardamom and allspice. Alcohol fills the nostrils. Palate follows with a hot hit of cinnamon added. As the heat fades, this turns into a yeasty cinnamon sugar doughnut. Nice warmth in the chest lingers. The only drawback is the finish turns slightly dry and bitter. Mouth waters in response and finishes with French toast, however.

Flavors just keep coming, slight burn that lasts a long time.

Mw8 run.

So this is an 11 year pick that I picked up a while back from the Cox's Creek warehouse and bottling center. Master Distiller Brent Elliot selected this barrel himself. So looking back I should have bought 2 bottles instead of this 1 as it is a dandy. The scent starts out with a cherry pastry that is still so fresh and warm. The next scent is very floral and smells like walking into a huge conservatory that is nice and warm but filled with plants that are thriving. Lastly that Q yeast always gives me the smell like an antique shop or my grandparents basement back in the 90s. I mean it just gives all good vibes before you begin your sip. Taste has honey, cherry, caramel, toffee and a little vanilla mixed in. Not really complex but the flavors all pop and are balanced quite well. Finish hangs around longer than other Q bottles I've had in the past. Finish is sweet and floral. There is a little clove, cinnamon and cherry as well which I enjoy greatly.

OESQ (9 yr 6 mo 114.4 proof) VS OBSQ (9 yr 8 mo 121.6 proof). Recording matchup here. OESQ nose: light cherries and heavy caramel. Overall, very light nose. OBSQ nose: much different nose on this one. A lot more floral on this one. Some honey too OESQ palate: hot on the mid palate. Not too much going on. Falls a little flat honestly. Maybe a tiny tiny bit of caramel but mostly flat. Not what I was expecting for my first ever OESQ taste. Spicy on the second try for this one. OBSQ palate: a little more flavor I think but not much. Also this one falls flat for me with an interesting flavor. Some black pepper comes through on the second try. OESQ finish: short and peppery finish. OBSQ finish: shortish finish and a little peppery but overall medium Overall: the OBSQ is higher proof and drinks about the same as the OESQ. Also seems to be a little more complex with a better finish. OBSQ definitely wins but this recipe is probably not my favorite. Very similar to wild turkey products.

Gomer's Kansas City store pick, 9 yrs 11 mo, 116.2 proof. I've been sitting on this bottle for a while, so not available for sale anymore. Long legs in the glass. This is not what I expected at all from OESQ. The nose is definitely floral and a bit fruity and sweet, but that's where the OESQ profile ends. On the palate, this is full of fall spice, cinnamon and vanilla. Pepper burns the lips, tongue and chest and holds on and on. The finish on this whiskey continues with the spices and pepper and lasts quite a while and at the end finally reveals a touch of floral, rose hips essence. This bourbon tells you it's high proof up front and won't let you forget. Definitely not for the casual drinker, but absolutely delicious.