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.