Four Roses Small Batch Bourbon

After being highly disappointed by the Four Roses Single Barrel I tried previously, I opted to give this well-respected brand another go. The Small Batch was definitely better than the Single Barrel I had. Deep, beautiful hue. Familiar bourbon vanilla and caramel, not a lot of nuance, no reinventing the wheel here. It’s just bourbon. Drinking it neat, there was almost a bitter quality to it. There is some ethanol heat and a lingering spicy finish, but drinking it over ice helped to tame it and make it a much more pleasant experience, allowing the sweetness to open up and shine. I didn’t like it enough to buy a bottle for my collection, but I would happily drink it again, on the rocks, at a restaurant or at a gathering.

Very mellow and smooth, spicy finish

Smooth with a cinnamon finish