Four Roses Barrel Proof OBSQ - Beast Master’s “It Must Have Been the Roses” Dancing Beaver’s Edition

Four Roses Barrel Proof OBSQ - Beast Master’s “It Must Have Been the Roses” Dancing Beaver’s Edition

Four Roses

58.5% ABV/117 Proof

10Y, 3M, Warehouse JE, Barrel 15-2D, 138 Bottles

Eye: Dark caramel - fantastic color. Thin rim with thin, slow legs.

Nose: Leather, caramel, and vanilla. Hint of burn. Tart berries emerge. Air lets out more spices, especially cinnamon and clove, turning the nose into a spiced maple syrup.

Palate: Controlled heat - plum preserves, toffee, heat starts to numb then transitions to chocolate. Plenty of oak, and the proof isn’t playing around - this is spicy. Red fruits build after you swallow. Air opens up more of the red fruit freshness and tartness. Mouthfeel is viscous and coating. 

Finish: Very fruity, stone fruits take the lead (cherries and nectarines). Finish is heavy at first and lightens with air.

Overall: An excellent pick with great heat, sweet, fruity flavors and more. Lots of complexity. 

Rating: 8.0

10 | Insurpassable | Nothing Else Comes Close (Blanton’s Straight from the Barrel)

9 | Incredible | Extraordinary (GTS, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B518 and B520)

8 | Excellent | Exceptional (12+YO MGP Bourbon, Highland Park Single Barrels)

7 | Great | Well above average (Blanton’s Original, Old Weller Antique, Booker’s)

6 | Very Good | Better than average (Four Roses Small Batch Select, Knob Creek 14+ YO Picks)

5 | Good | Good, solid, ordinary (Elijah Craig Small Batch, Buffalo Trace, Old Grand-Dad Bottled-in-Bond)

4 | Sub-par | Many things I’d rather have (A.D. Laws Four Grain, Compass Box “Oak Cross”)

3 | Bad | Flawed (Iron Smoke Bourbon, Balcones)

2 | Poor | Forced myself to drink it (Buckshee Bourbon and Rye)

1 | Disgusting | Drain pour (Virginia Distilling Co. Cider Cask)