My preference of whisky is often a scotch but am open to bourbons and ryes. Four Roses has duly impressed me on many levels and this sample has me curious as to how much I would enjoy. A beautiful nose of autumn baking spices: nutmeg, cinnamon and cloves. A touch of sweetness of black cherries, vanilla extract, toffee and milk chocolate (think Heath Bar) with a bit of oaky sawdust. Inhaling instantly transports me to an Upstate farm on a crisp fall day. The whisky arrives with a rich brown sugar sweetness wrapped in a medium body. As the sweetness subsides, the spicy cinnamon hotness kicks in, but not over the top. Caramel, vanilla, apple crumb pie, and notes of chocolate. The rye is a foundation and is the binder for all the sweetness and spice and maintains that balance. Drying oak tannins and spicy cinnamon, like red hots, finishes this off along with vanilla sweetness, toasted marshmallows and black cherry; long and lasting. Water, as usual, tempers the spice allowing the sweetness to bear more a dominance. A fantastic and my ideal bourbon. A perfect balance of sweetness and spice. Water is not necessary but does not diminish the quality. I stumbled across Four Roses in Nashville and have found the have yet to disappoint. Thanks Ryan for providing me this wonderful sample. [Dry Glass: Sawdust and caramel][95/100][Tasted: 9/10/17]