Four Roses 130th Anniversary Limited Edition Small Batch Bourbon (2018)

This has been somewhat elusive for me. I finally managed to get a taste. The aroma of this spirit is immediately identifiable as Four Roses, yet possesses greater depth and richness than usual. Abundant caramel, vanilla, toasted coconut, graham cracker, and toasted marshmallow mingle with the typical rye spice, mashed banana notes, and a hint of acetone. The palate offers flavors akin to buttered popcorn, more toasted coconut, toasted hazelnuts, milk chocolate, and a pleasant touch of barrel spice and rye. The finish is long and warm, revealing all the wood sugars, intense vanilla, and a hint of musty oak. I'm uncertain if it's worth the resale market price, but it's quite enjoyable.

Nearly perfect. I've always appreciated expressions from this distillery, and this one meets expectations. Delicate floral, fruit, and baking spice aromas that I could inhale indefinitely. The palate reveals more bourbon characteristics with caramel, vanilla, brown sugar, cherry, apples, allspice, and a hint of crème brûlée. The finish is moderately long, which prevents a perfect score. I detect some cinnamon and a subtle mintiness with slight oak on the finish. It's akin to a mixed berry, apple cinnamon pie with a burnt brown sugar/caramel drizzle. Sweet and delightful; I would purchase it at retail whenever available.

Aroma - Almond pastry, baked apples, honey, caramel, oak, peach, vanilla, cherries Taste - Citrus, Rainier cherries, oak, spices, baked apples, ginger, and vanilla Finish - A buttery and creamy texture, with an extended and intricate finish featuring notes of toasted oak, ginger spice, and fruits This is an outstanding bourbon. High proof and intense but never overly hot. Oak is present throughout, much like any limited release from Four Roses. Pleasant notes of fruit and savory spice are also detected. I would certainly not be pleased about spending $300+ for this, but at the suggested retail price, it's a fantastic value. The bottle itself is also impressive.

Nose - Toasted sweet bread. Similar to Hawaiian rolls just out of the oven. A touch of cherry juice. A little bit of nut shell. Palate - Somewhat like slightly overcooked bread with hints of sweetness that are nicely overpowered by bitterness. It has the taste of overly baked Honey Nut Cheerios. Finish - Cinnamon bread that was overcooked. This bourbon maintains a consistent flavor throughout all the notes.

Drammers Club Pour. Excellent stuff. Nose: Red Apples, Green Apples, Maple Syrup, Cherries, Caramel, Grass, Milk Chocolate, Lavender, Vanilla, Apricots, Peaches, Oranges, Lemon Zest Palate: Oranges, Caramel, Cherries, Pineapples, Vanilla, Cloves, Papaya, Cinnamon, Dill, Grass, Spearmint, Raspberries, Pepper, Herbs, Grass Finish: Vanilla, Caramel, Cherries, Oranges, Peaches, Pineapples, Grass, Grapefruit, Herbs

The aroma is the best feature. No hint of alcohol despite the complexity. Compared side-by-side with the regular small batch, it tastes like a smoother version with better spice notes and no alcohol burn. Medium finish, less bitter than the regular version. However, 4 Roses prioritized balance over uniqueness, making it just okay in terms of special taste. It could easily be an everyday drinker, though it's expensive.