Review #132 Four Roses Single Barrel Barrel Strength: Bourbon

Score: 8.8 / 10

Distillery: Four Roses Distillery

Type: Kentucky Bourbon

Four Roses Distillery name was founded because Paul Jones's wife wore a corsage of 4 roses on their wedding day. He got married. I mostly just sip the stuff after I got stood up on Tinder and need to pour a drink. However, to each his own.

The distillery was moved to Louisville in 1884 and sets in the famous "Whiskey Row". If you're out there you have to visit.

This is one of the first whiskeys that i recommend anybody find if they are trying new things. It's truly a staple. Four roses comes in an E (20% rye) and B (35% rye) expression, so depending on how you feel rye, this should influence your pick.

Whiskey Review:

Nose: Strawberries and cream, angel food cake, raspberries, apples and a delicious cake frosting. Nose to the bottom of the glass picks up astringent rye notes while nose to the top of the glass yields sweet vanilla. Ethanol is almost non existent and I could smell this pour for days.

Palate: Upfront this pour is loaded with fruit, raisins and it pricks the palate with a tingling pepper spice. Tons of cream and vanilla surge through the drinking experience building up to berries and a nice black pepper spice on the back end. At one point hints of blueberry and lime popped up but faded out quickly. The same thing happened with a quick note of sugary apricot. Lots of different fruits with each sip which makes for a fun drink.

Finish: Mildly tannic and surprisingly long. Baking spices, dry cinnamon, red hot candies, rye, vanilla and oak all linger for a good long while.

Score: 8.8

Scale:

S+ Sensational - The Pinnacle (9.5+)

A - AXEceptional (astounding) (9-9.5)

B - bravo (step aBove average) (8-8.9)

C - competent (7-7.9)

D - disappointing (6-6.9)

F - flush it down the toilet (fail) (5.9 below)

Availability? Uncommon. the normal is very easy to find. The barrel strength will take some effort on your part, but not much.