Bourbon Heritage Month 2020 Day 1: Four Roses Small Batch Select 2019
Four Roses Small Batch Select 2019 Review
The “Fourth Rose”, SBS is a blend of six of Four Roses’ ten recipes (OBSV, OBSK, OBSF, OESV, OESK, and OESF). Four Roses Small Batch Select was the first new Four Roses expression since 2006 when launched as a permanent line extension in 2019. While NAS, Four Roses confirms that this is a blend of 6- and 7-year-old barrels.
52% ABV, NAS
Eye: Amber
Nose: Rich caramel, baked vanilla that’s less sweet than expected. No heat at all. There’s a savory note there, perhaps some herbaceousness from the rye.
Palate: Berries, especially strawberries, right away with some heat. As it rolls through the mouth, rye-led mint and cherries follow. More berry flavors develop, but strawberries remain the star. Mouthfeel is light to medium heft, neither oily nor coating.
Finish: Medium length, dessert berries with mint and some homemade whipped creaminess.
Overall: Four Roses Small Batch Select is a dessert bourbon for sure - the strawberries and mint carry the day. It’s balanced throughout with sweetness and enough heat that it’s never hot, just balanced. Easy sipper and a great all-day bourbon.
Rating: 6.8
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)
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