Generously_Paul
Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch Bourbon (2016)
Bourbon — Kentucky, USA
Reviewed
April 4, 2018
The final bonus dram of round 5. 25 reviews in less than 2 months is challenging, but also a fun journey. This time it’s a bourbon rather than a scotch and it’s from a distillery I really like, Four Roses.
This 2016 release of their Limited Edition Small Batch is bottled at 55.6% ABV, what I can only assume is batch strength, natural color of a rusty orange and most likely non chill filtered.
I was surprised to find mint as the first note I picked up on the nose. It’s very floral for a bourbon, honeysuckle and lavender. Orange rind with a light cinnamon. Then just like that the cinnamon becomes stronger with some toffee, caramel and mocha. A little bubblegum in there as well. Dry grass, brown sugar and some green grapes oddly enough. Not exactly what I was expecting, but very nice nonetheless
A nice gentle oak greets the palate along with some barrel char. Again it’s quite floral. Some apples and oranges and even grapefruit. Toffee, some light butterscotch, cinnamon and clove. Not nearly as complex as I would have liked, but still very good and quite easy to drink neat.
A medium bodied mouthfeel that is dry. It is not so much mouth coating as it is tongue coating.
A long finish with oak, lavender and orange pith. Quite dry.
Much milder than I was expecting. The single barrel is much more intense at a lower 50% ABV. I can’t get over just how floral it was. A few drops of water cut the flowers off at the stem and brought out more typical bourbon spices. Given its rarity and hefty price tag I have to say I am not quite as impressed as my SDT cohorts were. It’s good and I enjoyed it, I just wasn’t blown away. Having said that I’m still giving a 4.25. Thank to @PBMichiganWolverine for the sample.
Cheers
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Correction: I am actually mostly through round 2 not round 1.
@PBMichiganWolverine you need to start watching his live feeds, you’ll understand what I mean Just messing with you @Telex
@Generously_Paul wait, what’s this about plastic spoons and Pringles? Do I need to sit down with him and have the same talk as I do with my 5 year old? Plastic spoons are for picking up food, not scratching parts of your body where the sun don’t shine. And Pringle are good for one thing only...cover that Glencairn while adding a subtlety salty taste to the dram
Well @PBMichiganWolverine, I don’t think anyone was beating you this round. You were plowing through 2-3 per day. @LeeEvolved was sidelined for a couple weeks with the flu and @Telex was too busy messing with his plastic spoon and Pringles!
@Generously_Paul this is not good. I finished first, you second. I figured @LeeEvolved would be first, probably done in one night. @Telex as second, maybe through two sittings of his show. Toss up between you and I. And @Scott_E dead last, once he’s done with round 1.