bourbon review

Review: Four Roses 135th Anniversary Limited Edition Small Batch Bourbon

As the weather starts to cool, distilleries gear up for some of their most anticipated releases of the year. Four Roses has just put out their latest expression celebrating their 135th anniversary: 135th Anniversary Limited Edition Small Batch.

This year’s highly awaited release comes in at 112 proof, or 56% abv. Master Distiller Brent Elliott blended four of their 10 unique bourbon recipes to craft this expression:

  • 12-year-old OESV
  • 14-year-old OESK
  • 16-year-old OESV
  • 25-year-old OBSV

“In crafting this blend, I wanted to create an elegant bourbon worthy of the brand’s heritage. Each of the 12-, 14-, and 16-year-old batches possess individual characteristics that complement each other perfectly. Once the ideal balance of these three batches was achieved, I looked at several other batches of various ages and recipes to add an extra layer of nuance to the blend. Ultimately, I selected the 25-year-old OBSV, which melds perfectly with the other batches and adds additional complexity and depth.”

-Brent Elliott

So… how does it fare?

On the nose, fresh aromatic herbs mingle with slightly burnt caramel, vanilla, and oak spice. The palate offers an immediate blend of minerals, spice, and caramel sweetness, with the latter not overly saccharine. Hints of oak and stone fruit show up in the mid-palate, adding more spice and complexity. There’s slight astringency here, but again, Elliott’s skillful hand keeps things in balance. The finish…. wow. The sweet, oak, and spice continue but a slight earthiness is introduced. After it’s long gone, a touch of minty freshness is left.

I’ve had the pleasure of sampling some of these limited edition small batch releases through the years, and I can easily say this 135th Anniversary release is the best in a decade. It’s complex throughout, but the balance of flavors make this bourbon easily approachable.

Four Roses is only releasing just over 15,000 bottles priced at $199. If you’re one of the lucky 15,000 people to score a bottle (especially at retail pricing), treasure this release. Highly recommended.

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

Review: Michter’s 10-Year-Old Bourbon (2023)

This review’s a little late, but better late than never! Earlier this year, Michter’s has once again released one of my favorites of their whiskies – the venerable 10-year-old single barrel bourbon.

My sample bottle provided by Micther’s comes from barrel #23A0276. It’s bottled at 47.2% abv, or 94.4 proof. Over the past couple of years, I’ve found myself reaching for barrel proof offerings less. I find whiskies aged between 8-10 years and bottled at between 90-100 proof my current sweet spot. This expression certainly ticks all boxes.

On the nose, hints of cinnamon roll, nutmeg, and vanilla show at first. A little airtime reveals lovely oak spice. Things feel rich on the palate. Maple syrup kicks things off, with waves of brown sugar and spice washing over the palate. A touch of oak tannins on the back of the palate lead to a medium-length finish.

No surprises here. What’s lovely about these single barrel offerings from Michter’s is the level of consistency from release to release. I find much less variation with this brand than others. That’s not a bad thing, just an observation. That said, this 2023 release keeps the flavor profile of their 10-year-old bourbon very well. Love the waves of brown sugar sweetness combined with baking spices. Makes for an extremely balanced whiskey. Highly recommended!

$185 | michters.com

Review: Barrell Bourbon Batch 022

The last several batches of Barrell Bourbon have lived in the 9 to 11 year range. Their latest, Batch 022, is a blend of 5-year-old straight bourbon whiskies distilled and aged in Kentucky and Indiana and bottled at cask strength (116.6 proof). In fact, the last release this young was batch 013.

The Kentucky barrels utilized here bring a dry, woody character to the final blend. In contrast, the Indiana barrels added floral, herbaceous, and sweet notes.

Sweet orange aromas steer the nose on this batch, along with hints of gin botanicals, vanilla, caramel, and apricot. The palate features a creamy mouthfeel flavored by notes of orange blossom honey, cola, caramel, and a certain grassiness. The medium, sweet, and slightly dry finish features a distinct, lingering cinnamon candy note.

Batch 022 comes across as lively and aromatic. The rye grain in the mash bill brings about an almost barrel-aged gin quality on the nose. The folks behind Barrell Bourbon are always looking to present something interesting in each batch, and they’ve certainly achieved their goal here. Barrell Bourbon Batch 022 is a tasty reminder that the bourbon flavor profile can certainly be expanded upon. Plus, it’s exquisite when used in an Old Fashioned. Recommended.

Barrellbourbon.com

Thanks to Barrell Craft Spirits for the production sample. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.