Four Roses

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.

Four Roses 2017 Limited Edition “Al Young” 50th Anniversary Bourbon Review

Four Roses Senior Brand Ambassador Al Young. Photo courtesy of Four Roses.


Where to start with Al Young?  He’s worked for Seagrams/Four Roses in some capacity or other for 50 years now.  In 1990, he was named Distillery Manager.  Young then transitioned into the role of Senior Brand Ambassador a decade ago.  Furthermore, Young has played the role of historian, documenting the brand from its beginning to its modern day resurgence in the book, “Four Roses: The Return of a Whiskey Legend.”

To commemorate a half century in service of the industry, Four Roses dedicated its spring-time limited edition release to Young.  The whiskey is a small batch bourbon that uses four of the company’s ten bourbon recipes.  Master Distiller Brent Elliott worked together with Young to pick just the right barrels.

  • 12-year-old OBSF
  • 13-year-old OESV
  • 15-year-old OBSK
  • 23-year-old OBSV

 The bottle is also a retro design.  Young looked through the company’s extensive archives and requested the new bottle look like one from 1967, his first year with the company.  You couldn’t ask for a better package.


The whiskey itself is magnificent.  The nose is full of beautifully aged bourbon – dark caramel, sweet corn, dried fruits and wave after wave of vanilla and spice.  A touch of cigar box adds some complexity.  Every now and then, some light floral topnotes fight their way through.  The palate was equally engaging with caramelized corn, dark cherries, candied berries, toasted grains, and spice.  Vanilla creme brulee plays big mid-palate.  The back palate features more spice (cinnamon, cloves) and slight bitterness.  That comes across more as a barrel char than something like dark chocolate.  Maybe somewhere in-between.  The finish is very long and warm, with that “bitter” character coming through alongside soft caramel sweetness.

For my tastes, Four Roses 2017 Limited Edition Al Young 50th Anniversary Small Batch Bourbon is on the shortlist for my favorite whiskey of 2017.  Though this bourbon came out in June, it’s still just reaching different parts of the country. Only 10,000 bottles are available at a suggested price of $150. If you see it, buy it.  And if you buy it, drink it.  You won’t be disappointed.  9/10

Thanks to Four Roses for the sample.  As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Four Roses OBSF Single Barrel Bourbon Review (Maisano’s bottled 12-08-16)

Photo courtesy of Maisano’s

Last December, I took a ride over to Ocean Springs, Mississippi for one of my semi-regular visits to Maisano’s Fine Wine & Spirits.  I’m always interested in what single barrel store picks owner Jonathan Maisano has in stock.  I picked up a bottle of his store pick 1792 Full Proof while I was there.  Before I left, he gave me a tiny sample of his next Four Roses Single Barrel pick  – a 9 year, 9 month old 118 proof OBSF.

I asked him to let me know when the bottle was hitting shelves, as I’d like to post short piece about the release.  So, as you’re reading this post, 114 bottles are currently hitting the shelves at Maisano’s for about $60 each.  That’s the barrel yield.  Not a lot to go around.  

Being an OBSF recipe, this Four Roses is spicy!  Cardamon and cinnamon lead the nose, alongside hints of caramel, red fruits, and oak.  Taste-wise, oak spice is a major player here.  Underneath lies a bed of creamy caramel.  The bourbon opens up to reveal ripe tree fruits and vanilla, with a touch of spearmint.  The finish is long, leaving a warm, satisfying cinnamon-topped vanilla creme.

Four Roses store picks generally don’t disappoint, and this one is no exception.  I tend to like the spicier “B” recipes from the distillery.  Great barrel pick from Jonathan.  8.5/10

Thanks to Maisano’s for the sample.  As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.