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Whiskey Review: 2021 Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch

We review the hotly anticipated release of 2021's Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch.

OVERALL RATING

8
$150.00
  • Carin Moonin is a Portland-based whiskey enthusiast and writer.
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Four Roses 2021 Limited Edition Small Batch Bourbon

Tasting Notes

About:

114.2 proof; about $150; non-chill filtered; see above for alphabet soup mash bill.
Appearance:
Shiny new penny copper. Warm, rich, burnished—with ruddy undertones.
Nose:
The smell on this is as pleasing as a plump cat’s purr on your lap. By that I mean to say it’s inviting and a little mysterious and also familiar. It smells like bourbon, like a good and quality bourbon. Hints of plum, caramel. Subtle. That fresh paper smell of a hardcover book you have been dying to read from a favorite well-respected and yet utterly readable author.
Palate:
Coming in hot! This is a high-proof whiskey that arrives as piping hot as a legally forewarned fast-food coffee. It tastes like gulping a ginger tea before it cools off as it travels through your esophagus. It has some spice, not like a holiday or fall spice. More like black peppercorn spice. I am a woman who takes her bourbon neat 99% of the time, and I was sprinting to the freezer for ice. Good thing I did: That brought out undertones of blondies, blueberries, and pancakes. It’s got the overall sweetness and vibe of a good solid, sip-this-in-the-library-with-good-folks kind of bourbon.
Finish:
Comments:
I’ll never turn down Four Roses, especially for a limited offering like this one. They are experts at their craft. But it also tastes like its check engine light is going to pop on anytime. Meaning: Make sure you’ve got something to prevent overheating.

Editor’s Note: This whiskey was either bought as a sample by The Whiskey Wash or provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. Per our editorial policies, this in no way influenced the outcome of this review.

Carin Moonin

Carin Moonin swapped a 5th-floor walkup in Hoboken, NJ, for a house in SE Portland a decade ago and hasn't looked back. She appreciates Portland's vibrant whiskey scene, finding it complements both the weather and her mood. Carin enjoys exploring the diverse world of brown liquor and its many facets. Her writing has been featured in publications such as Salon.com, DailyDot.com, Willamette Week, Portland Monthly, and others. When she's not indulging in whiskey or writing about it, you can find Carin running, reading, or on the hunt for free samples in grocery stores.

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