Read our review on Four Roses Small Batch Select. This bourbon’s taste, nose, finish, value, and history. Whether you are a beginner or a connoisseur, you will find something to enjoy in this bottle. Four Roses Small Batch Select is a bourbon that deserves a place in your collection and your glass.
Four Roses Small Batch Select Age, Composition, and Proof
- Mashbill: “E” Blend of 75% Corn, 20% Rye, 5% Malted Barley and “B” 60% Corn, 35% Rye, 5% Malted Barley
- Age: 6-7 Years
- Proof: 104.4
- Parent Company: Kirkin Brewing
Small Batch Select was introduced to the Four Roses lineup in 2019. This was the first permanent addition to the product line in 12 years, and it showcases the work of the master distiller Brent Elliott. The Small Batch Select is a blend of six of the 10 Four Roses bourbon recipes, aged for at least six years, and bottled at 104 proof. The six recipes are OBSV, OBSK, OBSF, OESV, OESK, and OESF (this is actually kind of intereting, and you can read about Four Roses’ Mashbills here).
The Small Batch Select mashbill recipe consists of 2 mashbills, named “B” and “E”: 75% corn, 20% rye, and 5% malted barley (E) and 60% corn, 35% rye, and 5% malted barley (B). The yeast strain of each recipe adds a different character, such as V (delicate fruit), K (slight spice), O (rich fruit), Q (floral essence), or F (herbal notes). Small Batch Select is formulated by combining various elements of the Four Roses Mashbills.
It’s also worth noting that this is a non-chill filtered bourbon, meaning that it retains more of the natural oils and flavors from the barrel.
Four Roses History
Four Roses has a sappy origin story. According to the distillery, Four Roses is a brand of Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey that has a romantic origin story. According to legend, the founder of Four Roses, Paul Jones Jr., fell in love with a Southern belle and proposed to her. She replied that if she accepted, she would wear a corsage of four roses to the upcoming grand ball. On the night of the ball, Jones saw her wearing the corsage and was overjoyed. He named his bourbon Four Roses as a symbol of his passion for her and his whiskey.
The Four Roses distillery in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, was built in 1910 with Spanish Mission-style architecture and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was originally owned by J.T.S. Brown and designed by Joseph & Joseph Architects, a firm with a long history of distillery design. The brand was acquired by Seagram in 1943 and became popular in Europe and Asia, but was discontinued as a straight bourbon in the US market until 2002.
Today, Four Roses is actually owned by a Japanese Whiskey Company, Kirkin Brewing. In 2002, Kirin bought Four Roses to help them expand into the Asian whiskey market (which is utterly booming). Four Roses now joins Beam Suntory (more about Jim Beam here) among the ranks of Asian-owned American bourbon brands.
Four Roses Small Batch Bourbon Review:
Nose: Spicy rye hits your nose from the get go. Even though this bourbon is only around 104 proof, you also get a strong hit of alcohol. After rye and alcohol, lots of the customary flavors jump in: Oak, black pepper, licorice.
Score: 8.2/10
Palette & Finish:
As with the nose of this drink, rye hits you up front. Past that, you get oak, vanilla, caramel, and a finish of leather and tobacco. The flavors balance beautifully, and no particular flavor jumps out as overwhelming. Past the finish, you’ll have a good burn of spicy rye and alcohol in this drink as well.
But Four Roses Small batch select is also smooth. Very very smooth. Pleasantly so. This is a great pour for beginners.
Score: 8.9/10
Value:
The MSRP for Four Roses Small Batch Select is $59.98. This is right along the market rate for premium-to-nice bourbons with the proof and age that we’re seeing in this bottle.
For the value, I’d say this bourbon is spot on, and above-average for it’s peers.
Score: 9.0/10
Bourbon Dose Final Score:
Four Roses Small Batch Select is a remarkable bourbon that showcases the craftsmanship and diversity of the Four Roses brand. It is a complex and smooth blend of six different recipes, each with its own character and flavor profile. Whether you are a beginner or a connoisseur, you will find something to enjoy in this bottle. Four Roses Small Batch Select is a bourbon that deserves a place in your collection and your glass.
Final Verdict: 8.7/10 – Get it if you don’t want to drop five grand on Pappy.
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