Four Roses Small Batch Select Bourbon

The nose is just great - it’s rich, warm and inviting. There’s a maple syrupy sweetness, charred oak and warming baking spices. It’s like turning the furnace on for the first time in fall... The first sip starts out smooth with strong oak and spice and a bit of leather across the mid palate. The body is excellent and could easily be under appreciated bit is oily and heavy. The sour mash comes out more on the second whiff and second sip is more cinnamon and clove, oak and milk chocolate. The finish medium, warm and spicy with a milk chocolate and cherry sweetness. Just fantastic. The proof seems higher on the palate than the label but isn’t offensive. The flavors are rewarding enough to keep me coming back. Complexity isn’t nuts but it’s no one trick pony. I’ve revisited this and the more I do so the more it’s grown on me. Time will tell how it stands up to barrel strength single barrels but it easily beats any off the shelf FR single barrel I’ve ever tried. Should be on anyone’s radar and we’ll worth the price compared to many others in the $50 range. This next to a bottle of Rare Breed or Russel’s Reserve and possibly a Buffalo Trace for the faint of heart would make for a wonderful starter [bourbon] bar.

I was excited to find this in KY (I live in Nashville) since this is not available in TN yet. The nose is nice and sweet with baking spices, some rye, cola, brown sugar and a hint of leather. The palate has a nice mouthfeel with rye, vanilla, some sweetness, and a touch of oak. The finish is long and has some lingering spiciness. Though I haven’t had the normal Small Batch offering, I’ve had the single barrel and Barrel strength store pick single barrels. This one stands on its own and is just a good all around bourbon.

One of the best solid offerings from Four Roses