Four Roses Private Selection Single Barrel Barrel Strength Bourbon (OBSF)

Uncertain if this is the exact bottle. Sipping a sample provided by a friend from a blog. The sample notes indicate 122 proof, OBSV, "Borrowed Brass". Tasting neat in a Glencairn after about 15 minutes rest. Beautiful polished mahogany coloring. Viscous sheeting and slow legs promise a rich mouthfeel. The nose is rich and subtle, with surprisingly little alcohol given the proof. Ripe peach and caramelized sugar are initial impressions. Rich caramel and notes of black pepper and Red Hots candy emerge on the palate. There is substantial barrel influence in the mid-palate. Oak and char, dry vanilla, and cherries form the body of the flavor profile. The finish is long, beautifully tapering to notes of menthol, a bit of pine resin, and finally a slow, lingering capsicum-like warmth in the back of the throat and through the chest. There is just the slightest hint of funkiness late in the taste curve that is hard to identify. It might be the circumstances of the evening... but there's just the slightest bit of imbalance preventing this from reaching a perfect 5 on my scale. The world has many outstanding 4s, far fewer 4.5s, and very few above that. This is right there - truly superb. Wish I could get another!

An outstanding pour. While a big admirer of Elijah Craig barrel proof releases, this truly excels in blind tastings, and I've conducted several. It's not the easiest to acquire, but if found at its suggested retail price of around $85 or $90, buy it every time. This specific offering, one of ten variations, is remarkable. The high rye content and floral notes are prominent but not overwhelming. It's exceptionally well-balanced and drinks as if it were lower than its 120 proof. It would perform exceptionally well in most blind comparisons. I have virtually no significant complaints. The only minor point might be that the finish isn't quite as lengthy, but that's being overly critical.

Details about the age and alcohol by volume. My father bought this for me during a trip to Wisconsin last summer. I drank it neat (as I always do). Nose: floral, vanilla, caramel.. a little bit of green apple. Palate: follows the nose. Very floral. Not as thick as I was hoping for. Finish: medium length. Nothing unexpected. Overall, this was pretty good. I still haven't had a Four Roses that truly amazed me. Am I just a Buffalo Trace fan who prefers that flavor profile? Maybe. I enjoy these store selections, but the Four Roses store picks don't compare to the Buffalo Trace store picks in my opinion.

The aroma is very concentrated, with prominent alcohol that's almost like Windex. After allowing it to rest for a bit, subtle hints of cream soda and vanilla begin to emerge. The initial taste is thin in body, with most flavors hitting the front and back of the mouth. It presents as cream soda with notes of sour apple and black cherry, leading to a pleasant sweet finish. However, even after consuming half the dram, the alcohol's intensity remains noticeable and sharp. While it's 114 proof, other single barrels are stronger yet less consistently sharp.

Store selection Details about the aging, alcohol by volume, warehouse, and barrel. Aroma - lots of chocolate, melted butter, with rye prominent as well. Nice balance. Hints of figs and plums. Also getting a subtle note of bubble gum. Taste - Wow. Very different from the aroma. Leather, tobacco, black tea, oak. All very bold flavors. Vanilla bean emerges on the finish. I really like how it transitions from the bold flavors upfront to the significant sweetness on the finish.

These bottles remain somewhat enigmatic, so tasting another from a friend's collection was appreciated. It concluded a wonderful evening but doesn't measure up to certain other selections. It has a minty quality. Initially, I suspected it was imagined, but as the flavors settle after swallowing, it becomes more evident. This is definitively a whiskey for a julep. It's easy to consume, but its singular focus is Derby Day.