Four Roses’ Latest Limited Edition Small Batch Includes 21 Year Bourbon

The annual contribution Kentucky distillery Four Roses makes to the fall rarer bourbon release cycle we see each year is its Limited Edition Small Batch. The 2018 edition of it was named World’s Best Bourbon at the recent World Whiskies Awards, and what’s shaped up to be the 2019 offering very well could end up being even more interesting than the previous release.

The Four Roses 2019 Limited Edition Small Batch Bourbon, according to those behind it, marks the first Four Roses limited-quantity bottling to feature a 21-year-old bourbon from the distillery’s OBSV recipe. This release will also feature a 15-year-old OESK, 15-year-old OESV and 11-year-old OESV. It is non-chill filtered and bottled at 112.6 proof.

Four Roses, for those unfamiliar with how they do bourbon, is said to be the only bourbon distillery that combines two mash bills with five proprietary yeast strains to produce 10 distinct bourbon recipes, each with its own unique characteristics. The distillery was established in 1888, and today has distilling and warehousing operations in Lawrenceburg and Cox’s Creek, Kentucky, respectively.

“Our 10 distinct Bourbon recipes provide the ability to handcraft new and interesting expressions and with this year’s Limited Edition we found some exceptionally well-rested Bourbons in some of our higher aged barrels,” said Four Roses Master Distiller Brent Elliott in a prepared statement. “Combining the delicate fruit flavors and light spice from our V and K strains resulted in a uniquely nuanced whiskey.”

As it stands now plans call for approximately 13,440 hand-numbered bottles of the 2019 Limited Edition Small Batch Bourbon to be sold in the United States for around $140. This special release also follows the culmination of the company’s $55 million expansion project in April 2019. The expansion project began in 2015 and is doubling production capacity to accommodate growing demand.

Limited official tasting notes for this bourbon from Four Roses suggest it “offers elegant aromas of oak, honey, red raspberries and vanilla. The bourbon is complemented by flavors of bright, sweet fruits, cinnamon, baking spices, and mellow barrel flavors leading to a rich, soft and lasting finish.”