Editor’s Note: This whiskey was provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. This in no way, per our editorial policies, influenced the final outcome of this review.
Four Roses Master Distiller Brent Elliott recently assembled a new blend for the distillery’s 135th anniversary: the Four Roses The 135th Anniversary Limited Edition Small Batch Bourbon. This bourbon is composed of four non-chill filtered components with a significant amount of age and was launched on September 15th.
Four Roses is a distillery that is passionate about blending and sharing that experience with their fans. In that vein, the press kit included samples of each of the components as well as a barrel-proof version of the final release. I will discuss the components below and how they influence the final release.
The Four Roses The 135th Anniversary Limited Edition Small Batch Bourbon is a blend of four components of different ages: 25-, 16-, 14-, and 12-years-old. The blend uses three different recipes, 1, 6, and 7. They differ by two proprietary yeast strains, V and K, and by mash bill, B and E, all of which I detail below. Elliott described his blending process for this bourbon as an attempt “to create an elegant bourbon worthy of the brand’s heritage…” He first blended the younger three, which he felt “possess individual characteristics that complement each other perfectly.” To round out the final assemblage, he added the 25-year-old OBSV because it “melds perfectly with the other batches and adds additional complexity and depth.”
Recipe 1, OBSV, is a “high-rye mash bill with the V yeast that creates delicate fruity flavors.” It is typically used in 100 proof single-barrel, Four Roses Bourbon, and as part of the small batch select. Elliott describes it as “defined by the rye” with fruit and floral notes.
This sample right off the bat was a favorite of mine in the Four Roses The Ten Recipe Tasting Experience. I found it to be explosively aromatic with spice notes. The layers of fruit lift up the mid-palate and rye grain and oak notes lead the charge on the long finish. In the Four Roses The 135th Anniversary Limited Edition Small Batch Bourbon, the barrel of Recipe 1 uses is 25-years-old, which downplays some of the fruit notes but adds layers of complex spice notes like a high-end perfume. It is a fabulous bourbon in its own right.
Recipe 6, OESV, uses the same yeast strain as Recipe 1. The difference is the mash bill. Elliott notes that the E mash bills show less rye spice than B and more sweetness and roundness from the corn. According to Elliott, the aromas are softer and sweeter, with delicate stone fruit notes that show “elegance and balance” and a slow fade out on the finish.
Whereas Recipe 1 reminds me of perfume with its musky spice and fruit notes, to me, Recipe 6 comes off as utterly dominated by sweet vanilla and oak on the nose. The palate is where Recipe 6 shines, with hints of pear and fruit chewing gum on the palate with a long finish. You really get the feel of what the two different amounts of rye do for this combination when tasting side-by-side.
Trending Stories
The 12-year-old version of this recipe is energetic with a burnt match note, while the 16-year-old feels sweeter with notes of homemade whipped cream and cinnamon candies. The 16-year-old also seems to be the source of the volatile acidity that I picked up in the final blend, which adds interest on the finish.
Recipe 7, OESK, adds “baking spice,” according to the Four Roses website. I found that when tasted alone, this 14-year-old bourbon gives oodles of coconut and perfumed notes, including musk, amber, tanning oil, and Dr. Pepper. It uses the K yeast strain, which added delicate spice notes according to the distillery. The E mash bill, like Recipe 6, tends to show less rye spice and more sweet cereal notes. I see the cereal notes more clearly on this recipe than 6.
The distillery describes the final blend as a “soft, smooth, and characteristically shareable” bourbon with “subtle flavors and complex layers” and showing notes of “honey, vanilla, and rye spice,” among other descriptors. My sample was barrel strength at 56% ABV, so differs slightly from the final release. Let’s taste.
Tasting Notes: Four Roses The 135th Anniversary Limited Edition Small Batch Bourbon
Vital Stats: Aged for 25-, 16-, 14- and 12-years in new American oak barrels, 56% ABV, mash bill: a blend of two 75% corn, 20% rye, 5% malted barley and 60% corn, 35% rye, 5% malted barley, SRP $199.99/ 750ml bottle.
Appearance: This is a light, rose gold color.
Nose: This leaps from the glass with classic bourbon aromas of sugar cookies, polished wood, and caramel. There’s a touch of volatile acidity that gives it a slight note of fresh violets. It reads as older, with toasted cinnamon and allspice. I can feel the heat when I stick my nose in the glass, no surprise given that it is barrel proof. There’s a delicate note of toasted coconut under it all, giving me the impression of dark chocolate-dipped macaroons.
Palate: The bourbon is moderate in body and easy-drinking, despite the high alcohol. It feels tart and crisp instead of fiery and tannic. The flavors are delicate. I pick up more notes of ground spices, including allspice, cinnamon, toasted fennel seed, and dill. On the fruit side, there’s a touch of fresh apple cider and yellow pear. On the sweet side, I taste malt and chocolate, like Whoppers candies. There’s a faint suggestion of vanilla wafer cookies as well. The finish I found a touch lacking. It ends with a bitter note akin to over-brewed black tea.
Latest News