Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Review 178: Four Roses Small Batch

I'd have to say that Four Roses is my favorite bourbon distillery. I've tried a few of their expressions, including a few of the single barrel releases (one reviewed here). Those are always pretty excellent, so lets try the popular small batch.

Four Roses Small Batch


Color: Amber +1

 ABV: 45%

Aroma Neat:
Dusty Rye, Vanilla, Banana Creme, Coconut Macaroon, Nutmeg, Cooking Corn, Fresh Sourdough/Yeast, Milk Chocolate (Hershey's), Raisins, Dates, Dutch Butter Cookies.

Wow, such an easy bourbon. Beautiful, smooth nose with just enough integrated spiciness to be prickly and lively. If Woodford Reserve is spirit-driven, then this whisky is a superb balance of spirit and oak.

Aroma Water:
Molten Caramel/Fresh Caramel Apples (Granny Smith), Blond Brownies, Butterscotch, Pepper Oil (warming), Vanilla/Banana Creme, Lemon (slightly), Roasting Corn, Dusty Grain/Grist, Cocoa Powder, Desert Rain (dusty/musty smell), Cherry Cordials (dark chocolate).

Wow! A delicious desert kitchen on the nose with water! Lots of burnt sugar notes.

Taste Neat:
Hershey's Cocoa Powder, Butter, Banana, Vanilla, Honey, Golden Syrup/Sap, Rum Raisin Pudding, Prickly Pepper, Woody Cinnamon, Sun-Dried Tobacco, Seasoned Oak, Corn/Grain Mash.

Chocolate, tobacco, spice, and grain all on top of a rounded, buttery overall character. Something for everyone!

Taste Water:
Butter/Butter Cookies, Tannic Oak, Wood Smoke, Vanilla, Snickerdoodles, Lemon (slightly), Fresh Ginger, Char, Maduro Cigar Wrappers, Oxidized Chocolate, Cherry Cordials, Dark Honey (slightly).

More buttery and less chocolaty than neat.

Finish:
Butter, Cocoa, Salt (slightly), Dry Tobacco Ash, Cinnamon, Barrel Char, Ground Pepper (slightly), Gravel/Mineral, Smoky Honey.

Buttery at first, with sweetness and dryness alternating after. Very good finish.

Conclusion:
All around very good. 

 Rating: 90/100

 Girlfriend Rating: 96/100

 I always think of Hershey's chocolate when I taste Four Roses. Delicious.

Anyway, no need to get more verbose than I already have been. This is a very fine bourbon and retails for less than 30 USD. 'Nuff said!

Josh

PS - This is great in a Boulevardier cocktail!
at

2 comments:

  1. UnknownDecember 11, 2013 at 9:15 AM

    hi Josh,
    i just found your blog...excelent reviews. four roses...is one of my favorite brand, too.

    i'd like to ask you something about storing whiskey.
    how bad is it for the whisky if exposed 10 weeks of the year at a temperature about 28 degrees?
    will there be some changes in the whiskey and some evaporation?
    i keep my bottles in a closet in complete darkness, upright. all my bottles are sealed.
    for the rest of the year i have around 21-22 degrees.

    in what condition are you keeping your liquor?

    thanks for your time.
    cheers

    cristian

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. UnknownDecember 18, 2013 at 5:01 PM

      Hi Cristian,

      Thanks for the kind words!

      I'm not an expert on preservation, but it sounds like you are doing everything right.

      Sealed, upright and in darkness is great, and you're around room temperature most of the year. Also, 28 C doesn't seem hot enough to do any real damage.

      I think your bottles will be fine!

      Cheers,
      Josh

      Delete