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

Strong smell but very good. Sweet with smoky aftertaste. Stays with you but in a good way

Gomers Kansas City Store Pick, fall 2021, 10 yrs 8 mos, 122.4 proof. Thick legs in the glass. Nose is very sweet and caramelly pit fruit and just a touch of cardamom and clove. Hotter on the palate than I expected based on the nose, as in pepper. The fruit and caramel come forward once the pepper fades. Finish is medium long. I don't usually feel the need to add water to whiskeys of this caliber but since it hit my palate hotter than expected, I added a few drops. The nose got sweeter and the initial pepper dissipated greatly and the sweet caramel jumped to the front. Finish shortens a bit, but still leaves a nice heat in the chest. Not sure which way I like it better. This is based on a fresh open, so I'll leave the bottle alone for a while and come back. Excellent none the less.

Super smooth, doesn't need proofing down

OESV (10 yr 2 mo 103 proof) vs OBSV (12 year 2 mo 119.4 proof). Documentation here for the matchup. OESV nose: a little darker fruit than the OBSV. Not as full of a nose though. Still very rich. OBSV nose: very lighty berries. Lots of fruit. Rich as well. Strawberry cheesecake. Yessss OESV palate: straight berries from the get go. Kind of hot on the palate though. But I do love the fruit on this. Very enjoyable first time trying this strain. OBSV palate: rich and thick like a Booker’s but more sweet. Not much spice but it does kick at almost 120 proof. Very complex. Some rye does shine through on the second sip but this is very solid. OESV finish: medium/short and sweet. OBSV finish: medium length and sweet as well. Overall: first before I decide which is better I have to say the OBSV 12 yr is SO much darker than the OESV 10 yr. unbelievable how two more years made this one that much darker. I gotta say that the OBSV is also just better. Forewarning, This may not be the case always. The OESV is a generic NC ABC pick and the OBSV is a pick from Shortbarrel in GA (who does amazing picks) so this could go another way in other instances. Nonetheless, kudos to this OBSV pick. Very very good.