Four Roses Super Premium 2019

BourbonReviewsAmerican WhiskeyFour RosesExport-Only

Nov 8

Written By David Levine

Four Roses Super Premium 2019

Four Roses Japanese-Only Release

43% ABV/86 Proof

NAS

Tried Blind

Eye: Liquid gold. Zero rims, droplets all over the glass.

Nose: Tight nose - fruit wood and far-away fruit, like there’s a buffer over the flavors. Nuttiness, too. The nose opens very slowly, only after significant air time, but it’s mostly cinnamon that comes forward.

Palate: Juicy fruit, the slightest proof heat. Tastes a bit watery or muddled. A good amount of oak for something on the (supposedly) younger side, some cinnamon and dryness. Mouthfeel is very light, but I can still tell it’s creamy and oaky. Gets in the corners of my mouth and stays there, if subtly.

Finish: Roasty…probably the best part of this pour. Slightly drying, creamy, totally smooth.

Overall: This was the weakest of the four-way blind. The Four Roses profile is there, but it's watered down too much. Might be preferable for the Japanese palate but not for mine - I want heat!

Rating: 5.8

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)