robertmaxrees
Four Roses Single Barrel Bourbon
Bourbon — Kentucky, USA
Reviewed
November 12, 2020 (edited March 14, 2021)
Nose: Classic, leaning into spicier and lighter. Vanilla, oak, and bown sugar are all here, along with distinct black pepper and baking spices. Chocolate covered cherries with cordial. Berries, too. Angel food cake with macerated strawberries and homemade whipped cream.
Palate: We lead with the light and spicy theme. Again, classic bourbon profile with the oak, vanilla, and brown sugar combo, but not dense and rich. Rye carries through as slightly herbal, cinnamon, and clove. Bananas, apricots, and strawberries are all here - for some reason I'm reminded of Fufu Berry Jones Soda. Sweet mandarines. Tannin taste and texture, though I'd expect that for a 100 proofer. There's also a slight almost lavender character buried deep in here. Again, getting some of that angel food cake and berries combo noted on the nose. Upper palate is out front, middle palate is well represented but obviously not the focus. Lower palate is there, but not prominent. Medium mouthfeel.
Finish: Nice pop of ethanol and light berry notes. Almost effervescent. Mint, thyme, and camphor come forward, along with oak and a thread of char. Menthol also comes in, and as these fade away sweet cream, oak, and light fruits, slowly fading away. Medium length.
Other notes: For the curious, this is from warehouse SS, barrel 89-3M. This is absolutely a cornerstone bourbon, giving folks a chance to see something at 100 proof that isn't going to beat them over the head with oak and richness. This plays off fruitier characteristics very well and is easy to drink without being boring. I have a bad habit of passing up bottles like this, discounting them and not giving them their fair shot. I'm glad I'm revisiting this - though still not among my favorites, the relative quality and care put into this are worth it. While there are plenty of other offerings at this price point, and I don't feel compelled to keep this on hand at all times, the variation from batch to batch makes me consider buying this every once in a while to see how things have changed. Worth a go.
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@Bourbon_Obsessed_Lexington You should get your hands on all the variations you can and review 'em! Would be a kick to read :)
@robertmaxrees after some quick reading I think your’re correct! I’m humbled again and a bit saddened that 4R isn’t slipping different recipes into their standard single barrels but I guess cost and efficiency are still king. Will have to see what the batch proof versions have to say about the various recipes!
@Bourbon_Obsessed_Lexington I was under the impression that the "standard" 4R SB was OBSV, though I'm definitely not an expert in the Realm of Roses and am often wrong! I should definitely go searching to the CS SBs some time and dive into those - something tells me I'd have a lot of fun with them :D
Single barrels with declared mashbills only deepen this rabbit hole. Although the price goes up $10 or so, it does allow you to run the gauntlet of their high and low rye mashbills and yeasts. The sensory profile you describe so nicely makes me think yours could be OBSF, their high rye (30%) bill with a more floral/earthy yeast strain (F) that tends to bring out mint or herbs on the palate. Happy exploring!
Excellent details in your descriptions of the flavors :)