Four Roses - Small Batch Select (2020)
59.99
Four Roses – Small Batch Select (2020)
Proof: 104
Age: No Age Statement
Distillery: Four Roses Distillery LLC
Type: Kentucky Bourbon Small Batch Blend
Mash: 60-70% Corn, 20-35% Rye, 5% Malted Barley
*Disclaimer: A score of 5 is the midpoint for my reviews. Above 5 I like it. Below 5 I didn’t for some reason. Most of my reviews are between 4-7. It takes something really really special to go above 7 or below 4. See the methodologies for rating at the end of the article
Nose: This is pleasing to the nose. It smells like fall/winter. The first and most prevailing scent I pick up is cinnamon. The following characteristics would include pudding, vanilla, leather, oak, and spice.
Taste/Palate: Once again the dominating feature here is the cinnamon followed by spice. In the mid palate it starts to roll into vanilla and caramel. The texture is a buttery mouthfeel.
Finish: The finale is dominate with spices and cinnamon with a slight hint of vanilla.
Verdict: When this bottle empties I will buy it again. I also purchased a bottle of this for a friend and a few of us tried it together. The general consensus from each of us (4 out of 4 recommend) it was worth the $59.99. To me it’s much different from any of the the Four Roses Single Barrels that I’ve tried. I won’t justify that it’s better as the price insinuates. Both bottles will be found on my bar shelf and my preference for which I like better that day will depend on my mood. Single Barrel is consistently a good all around bourbon. The Small Batch Select fits in well with a cold night and a fire in the fireplace. Don’ let the proof scare you. It’s very smooth for 104 proof.
The Story: Four Roses Small Batch Select is a blend of multiple Four Roses’ different recipes and yeasts. I won’t bore you with the recipe details, but the bottle provides a helpful tag that I refuse to copy (I’m lazy). This came out and it was new for me. I hadn’t heard about it’s release because I don’t follow Four Roses very closely. I’m very familiar with their small batch and single barrel options. I typically skip on the small batch because I’m more fond of other bourbons in that price range. The Four Roses Single Barrel always has a place on my bar shelf and luckily I can find it in ample supply in my area. But what about the Small Batch Select?
I walked into my local liquor store and regularly speak to the owner. He sells me craft brew kegs for my bar and knows I’m a fan of bourbon. I was scoping out the bourbons that day and he went right over to this bottle and gave me his pitch. “Its new and I hear its good” (he was living Bourbon By Proxy there, sorry I couldn’t help myself). I saw the price tag (59.99) and I know darn well that’s almost double what the small batch should be and $15 more than the single barrel. Luckily in his pitch he told me that this bottle is the small batch SELECT and he only has a couple on hand. He doesn’t know if/when he will get more and it must of small supply. Ok, Ok.. I’ll bite. He hooked me. I didn’t want to miss my opportunity here and I gave it a buy. But… I was skeptical it was “better” than the single barrel. I put “better” in quotes because the price was dictating the better statement.
I popped it open for the first time and gave it a go. This was a couple weeks ago and my review at that time was that I really liked it. Usually when I’m sipping on a bourbon my review ranges from “I REALLY like this”, to “I like this”, to “I’m not sure, I’m going to let it sit and breathe and I’ll return for round 2”, to “WTH did I just do, that was a waste of money, hopefully it mixes well in an Old Fashioned”. I don’t typically search for smell and tasting notes. I just enjoy. This time around I searched for those notes and they are listed above. Each time I return to this bottle I enjoy the pour. For a little context on what I like I’m a wheated bourbon guy. I usually gravitate towards sweet vs savory. I don’t mind spice, but it’s not my go to. This bottle has a nice balance of sweet spices such as cinnamon that was mentioned and more mellow on the pepper spices. Of course this bodes well with a buttery mouthfeel and vanilla/caramel notes.
Methodologies for Rating:
1. Dump it down the drain or regift it to someone you don’t care for.
2. This doesn’t even belong in a mixed drink. Use in case of an emergency.
3. It’s really not for me, but I heard some people like it.
4. Its only good when I’ve had too many and it’s decent in a mixer.
5. Solid. It hit all of what’s expected.
6. Above average. Good to bring to an event and you wouldn’t expect any guff from it.
7. Buy two if you see it to make sure you have one on reserve.
8. Very Very good. Constantly a GREAT POUR.
9. Superb. If I were to drink this and only this from now on I’d be a happy person.
10. Perfection is impossible. But this really comes as close as you can possibly get.
Reviewer: David S
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