I'm a longtime Four Roses fan, dating back to the days before I reflected much on what I was tasting. Four Roses Single Barrel is one of the best values in the market at the moment, and particularly distinctive as a high-rye bourbon. It has a mild and somewhat unusual nose (but in a good way), which reminded me of the honey glaze on great barbecue (to be clear, the glaze itself, not the meat). There's a nice floral touch to the nose as well, along with the baking spices you'd expect due to the high rye content. I had this bourbon side by side with Evan Williams Single Barrel, and Four Roses won in complexity, bringing much more than the standard vanilla, caramel, and oak scents. The palate has great texture without being at all "chewy," like some well-oaked bourbons like Elijah Craig can be. The baking spices are much more pronounced, but that honey sweetness is complemented by some kind of fruit -- pear, perhaps -- that is also an unusual taste in a bourbon. It's noticeably richer in flavor than lower ABV whiskies. The finish is, to fall back to a cliché, sugar, spice, and everything nice. I found it to be a soft and gentle finish, but one that faded relatively quickly, which puzzled me because most reviews I've seen (including at Distiller) note a long finish. It's excellent neat and, given its flavor profile, it should make a standout cocktail as well. It's around a 4.5 for me, particularly taking price into account; I suspect that the barrel strength, private selection versions of this offering would easily merit five stars.