BDanner
Four Roses Single Barrel Bourbon
Bourbon — Kentucky, USA
Reviewed
January 22, 2020 (edited April 25, 2020)
Another re-review that I did at the end of the year and am just now posting. This was among the first bourbons I ever purchased/reviewed, and while I really enjoy it, for some reason it's not something that I purchase very often. On to the review...
Four Roses Single Barrel from Warehouse: SS Barrel: 50-1L
Nose: Delicate, but Complex. Huge Floral Note, backed by Brown Sugar, Warm Iced Pastry, the smell of a freshly opened bag of Marshmallows (the big ones, not the miniatures), and just a Hint of Charred Oak. Maybe some hay and a touch of orange peel? Dive in too deep and there is a big hit of alcohol. At first, the floral note is so dominant that it's hard to find anything else but as it slowly fades, Dried Spices and Dusty Rye notes take its place. Interestingly, on subsequent pours the floral note has become much less noticeable.
Neat: There was not much Oak on the nose, but it really makes its presence known on the palate. Oak Heavy with a general Maple Sweetness. A Peppery Tingle. Maybe some of those Marshmallows from the nose? Slightly Tannic, but in a good way. Nice Kentucky Hug with a Long Finish of Oak and Brown Sugar coating the palate. Not as complex as the nose would suggest thanks to the heavy-handedness of the Barrel influence, but still a good solid profile.
Splash: Brings the Orange Peel from the nose to the palate. Reduces some of the Tannic notes and accentuates that Black Pepper tingle.
Verdict: This is a Single Barrel so My (and your) Mileage May Vary, but I don't remember the nose being this Complex and the palate being this Oaky in the past. It has been a couple years between bottles though. I was disappointed that the floral quality that I liked so much in the first pour has greatly diminished as I've worked through the bottle (leading me to drop it a quarter point), but overall this is a solid choice.
43.0
USD
per
Bottle
Create Account
or
Sign in
to comment on this review
Still occasionally see this at 40USD, making it along with Maker 46 the Giant Killers.
@bigwhitemike I agree. I had some last night and the floral/perfume-y nose was back in full effect.
I have alternatively loved this spirit and found it abrasive/challenging. I’ve found it’s mostly in my perception and palate that day instead of the whiskey - certainly 4R keeps these single barrels pretty consistent although I’m sure there is some evolution through the open bottle. Their floral notes are unmatched in the bourbon world IMO, and the balance between the high rye, oak, and yeast can be pretty amazing at times.