Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch Bourbon (2016)

Prior to visiting Room 901, a newish whiskey lounge in St. Petersburg, FL, I had not encountered a bar stocking Four Roses' sought-after annual Limited Edition Small Batch. Fortunately, the wait and effort were rewarded. The bourbon's defining feature is harmony. It's neither a potent, wild spirit nor a mild, plain drink. It possesses complexity without being difficult or odd in its taste. The aroma begins with peanut brittle, then shifts to a more traditional scent of oak, caramel, and ripe pear. The taste, however, takes a different route, presenting citrus notes of orange and grapefruit, oak, caramelized burnt sugar, and maple syrup. It coats the mouth wonderfully. This limited release finishes with a lengthy, comforting warmth carrying nutty and oaky notes. While not vastly superior to some excellent Four Roses Private Selections available nationwide, it comes down to choice. Purchasing a Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch, which is both pricey and scarce (retailing at $130 and often marked up by retailers), grants you the distillery's expertise and a consistent flavor. Opting for a store or bar selection means depending on an individual's discernment, hoping your preferences align. It's a trade-off. Occasionally, Private Selections prove to be exceptional whiskeys surpassing any limited distillery release, as the distillery naturally aims for broader appeal over unique character. Other times, you might end up with something you dislike. Don't hesitate to sample this if you're fortunate enough to discover it.

The last bonus pour from round 5. Completing 25 reviews in under two months has been tough, yet an enjoyable journey. This time, we have a bourbon from a distillery I hold in high regard, Four Roses. This 2016 edition of their Limited Edition Small Batch is bottled at 55.6% ABV, presumably at batch strength, exhibiting a rusty orange hue and likely unfiltered. Surprisingly, mint was the initial aroma detected. It presented a very floral profile for a bourbon, with notes of honeysuckle and lavender. Hints of orange peel and mild cinnamon were present, which then intensified alongside toffee, caramel, and mocha. A touch of bubblegum also appeared, along with dry grass, brown sugar, and strangely, some green grapes. While not entirely anticipated, it was quite pleasant. The palate offered a smooth oak presence and some barrel char. It remained quite floral, with notes of apple, orange, and even grapefruit. Undertones of toffee, light butterscotch, cinnamon, and clove were detected. Though lacking the complexity I desired, it was still very good and easily sipped neat. A medium-bodied texture, it felt dry. Rather than coating the mouth, it primarily coated the tongue. The finish was lengthy, featuring oak, lavender, and orange pith. It was quite dry. It was much subtler than anticipated. The single barrel expression, at a lower 50% ABV, offered a more potent experience. The overwhelming floral character was remarkable. Adding a few drops of water diminished the floral notes and revealed more characteristic bourbon spices. Considering its scarcity and high cost, I must admit I'm not as impressed as some of my fellow tasters. It's a good pour and I enjoyed it, but it didn't astound me. Nevertheless, I'm awarding it a 4.25. Thanks to a friend for the sample. Cheers

I've sampled a few of these LESBs recently – from 2014, 2016, and 2017. A year ago, I would have mistakenly believed they were all identical. I would have been quite mistaken. Four Roses utilizes a four-letter designation to denote the yeast strains employed. The format is consistently OxSy, with the initial letter typically being 'O' for the Lawrenceburg, KY distillery location. The 'x' can be either 'E' or 'B'. 'E' signifies a mash bill of 75% corn, 20% rye, and 5% malted barley. 'B' indicates 60% corn, 35% rye, and 5% barley. The 'E' mash bill likely yields a sweeter profile. The subsequent letter 'S' stands for 'straight whiskey.' The final variable letter 'y' represents the yeast strain, which can be: V = Subtle Fruitiness, Mild Vanilla, Caramel, and Creamy Texture K = Light Spice, Hint of Caramel, and Full Body O = Rich Fruitiness, Subtle Vanilla, Caramel, and Full Body Q = Floral Essences F = Herbal Aroma Essences Thus, there are 10 potential recipes based on these four letters. In any event, this 2016 iteration was unequivocally my top choice among the three I've tried. It was notably rich, pleasantly sweet without being excessive, and complex. The pricing, naturally, is utterly absurd... I've seen this particular bottle listed for $350. It is genuinely excellent, perhaps my favorite bourbon overall, but $350 is steep. You can approximate this experience by obtaining one of the Four Roses single barrel bottlings (which represent a single recipe variant, like an OESK) for $60-80. Alternatively, about 80% of the way there might be achieved with an Elijah Craig full proof for $60. Is it worth $350? It depends... for me, this was the finest bourbon I've encountered, so yes. Perhaps not for everyone, as taste is highly subjective. Fortunately, I didn't spend a penny on this... it was a gift for teaching someone about puts and calls.

I'm pretty sure this will be excellent. Four Roses is the kind of bourbon I look for. Notes of cherries, oak, and cinnamon are present. I found it by chance in Nashville and have been a fan ever since. The aroma is lively and bright. Spearmint and dill are noticeable at first. As it rests, notes of candy corn, maraschino cherries, and oak emerge, transforming into more. This time, baking spices like cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg appear with worn leather. The earlier scents still linger. Overall, it has a rich, autumnal aroma. The taste is warming but not harsh. The body is full but not excessively thick. It takes a moment for the palate to adjust. Then, opposing flavors of sweetness and spice emerge: brown sugar with cinnamon, vanilla with nutmeg, orange peel with butterscotch, caramel popcorn, and white pepper. The flavors interact and dance in pairs rather than following a straight path. As it fades, a tingling sensation remains on the tongue, which subsides in the finish. The lingering taste is quite long. Notes of charred oak, orange bitters, and brown sugar return, again tingling with spicy cinnamon, black pepper, and a hint of caramel. To reiterate: Four Roses makes bourbons that I really enjoy. They have baking spices, sweetness, warmth, and balance. This is another fantastic creation. Thanks to a friend for the opportunity to try this great bourbon. [Tasted: 11/5/18][90/100]

Aroma: (neat) Berry, woody vanilla, dark chocolate-covered cherries, mild cinnamon (diluted) no alteration. Palate: (neat) Pleasant cinnamon sting, fruity/sweet vanilla, dry vanilla caramel, faint dark chocolate bitterness, astringent oak, cherries (diluted) Cinnamon is subdued, vanilla leans more floral than fruity, caramel, increased astringency. Aftertaste: (neat) Lingering spicy berry heat, dry vanilla caramel, mild cherry throat lozenges (diluted) Reduced cinnamon burn, more dry cherry throat lozenges. Rating - 77/100 Concluding Remarks - This one wasn't a personal favorite. While not bad, it's far from outstanding. It comes across as a bourbon dominated by cinnamon and oak, with fruity/sweet floral undertones. No truly objectionable tastes, but the palate's tannins, which carry into the finish, feel a bit excessive. Adding water made little difference. Would I consume it if offered? - Yes Would I specifically request it? - No Would I purchase a bottle? - No

This bourbon is quite remarkable, especially after it sits for a bit. At first, it seems like a typical bourbon - with buttery spoonbread, apple, spices, a touch of wood, and leather on the nose. The palate also started with green apple, baking spice, a hint of buttered cornbread, and leather. As it developed, the fruit subsided and the spices became more prominent, including cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, black pepper, and white pepper. It had a slight bite, but wasn't unpleasant. A truly fine bourbon; many thanks to a friend for sharing!