One of the more anticipated fall bourbon releases is Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batches.  Four Roses produces 10 distinct bourbon recipes using two different mash bills and five different strains of yeast.  If you want to learn more about each recipe, visit the distillery’s website.  Their standard Small Batch is made up of four of the ten recipes.  This year’s Limited Edition is comprised of three: a 12-year-old OESO, 12-year-old OBSV, and 16-year-old OESK.  Also of note is the proof.  Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch bourbon is bottled at cask strength of 55.9% abv, or 111.8 proof.  Only 9,258 bottles will be available in the U.S. market.  Let’s get to it.

On the nose, cinnamon apples and spice cake waft out of the glass first.  They are followed by burnt orange peel, toffee and a touch of tobacco.  I love the journey this whiskey takes you on.  First, there’s an initial burst of sweet caramel.  Then, the spices ramp up – cinnamon, clove, and cayenne pepper.  Next a vanilla creaminess quenches the fire, so to speak.  Finally, the long finish is full of sweet orange candy and some rye sharpness.  There’s lots going on here.

Master Distiller Brent Elliott came up with a great combination of ages and recipes for this year’s lucious edition.  It’s different from last year’s solid release, showing these guys can make lots of quality whiskey.  Very well done.  I don’t have to tell you to pick one up if you see it.  You already knew that.  9/10

Thanks to Four Roses for the sample.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.