Four Roses Single Barrel OESQ “Forecastle”

Four Roses Single Barrel OESQ “Forecastle"

Four Roses

54.3% ABV/108.6 Proof

9 Years, 5 Months

Eye: Black iced tea. Thin rims and medium legs. 

Nose: Spicy and fruity. Tart citrus. Rye is present but not overpowering. Nectarines, some cinnamon and clove. Complex - really good nose. Evolves into cinnamon creme brûlée. 

Palate: Some up-front spice that warms the mouth. A high-rye bourbon flavor. Great dark fruit and chocolate on the back palate. Mouthfeel is tingly, not overly coating or full.

Finish: Puts the cinnamon front-and-center. Slight oak spice and astringency, with rye creeping into my nostrils.

Overall: Quite good - lots of baking spices and custard.

Rating: 6.9

*Thanks to my friends at The Bourbon Culture for the sample!

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)