Four Roses Small Batch Limited Edition 130th Anniversary Kentucky Straight Bourbon

VITALS:

- $140

- 108.4 Proof

- NAS

- Kentucky

This is one of my favorite bottles ever, having nothing to do with the whiskey inside. Rather, it has more to do with the circumstances around the first time I got to try it.  I'm not sure of the exact date, but it had to be late Spring or early Summer of 2019.  I know it was nice out that day. Warehouse Liquors in Chicago held a Four Roses tasting in its tasting room above the store. You had to get tickets in advance, and these tickets sold out very quickly. That's probably because this tasting was being led by one of the most well-known and well-liked ambassadors in the business, Al Young.

I don't remember the price of the ticket, but I know it wasn't cheap. I recall asking a buddy if he was in, and without hesitation he said, "Yes!" So, I grabbed two tickets the second they went on sale. We made it a point to get to the store early, and we were among the first few people in line. This allowed us to make our way straight to the very front of the tasting room, which ended up being right where Al Young spent the entirety of the evening. 

Because we were early, we got to chat up the local Four Roses ambassador, an incredibly friendly and fun guy whose name I now forget, though I have his card somewhere. And, we got to chat up Al Young for a solid 15 minutes before the tasting actually started! We got to ask him everything from what he drinks when he's not drinking Four Roses, to how he likes Chicago, to how his family was doing. Fifteen minutes of one-on-one just casual conversation with Al Young! Absolutely incredible!

The tasting itself consisted of four new private barrel picks selected by Warehouse Liquors, which were offered to event attendees first before they went on sale to the general public. We then tasted the Small Batch Select, which had just been released, and which Al was clearly touring at the time to promote.  And finally, we got to taste the 130th Anniversary Small Batch Limited Edition.

Now, if you haven't noticed by now, this post is not much of a review, but rather more of a reminiscing. But, I can assure you that this was the best bourbon that my buddy and I tasted that night. Absolutely delicious!!  In fact, after the tasting was over and while Al was taking pictures and chatting with everyone there, we asked the local ambassador if we could have another pour. He told us that we could have whatever we wanted, because it just meant less for him to bring home, but he did ask us to be discreet.  So, next thing we know my buddy and I are huddled in a corner, just enjoying pour after pour of the 130th Anniversary, and practically giggling at just how absurd the situation was!!!

After the event, my buddy and I enjoyed a nice, albeit a bit tipsy, walk to the train station to head home. I remember going through my goodie bag they sent me home with and enjoying all the swag I got.  It was one hell of a night, and I didn't realize just how lucky I was until just a couple months later when the news broke that Al Young had passed away.  I don't get very sentimental over celebrity deaths. Of course, I get sad when an athlete or musician that I considered myself a fan of passes. But this hit me differently. I had met the guy once, and I felt like I lost a friend, or, at the very least, someone that I truly admired, enjoyed their company, and wished I could have spent more time with. It was an unexpected blow.

So, after that, I made it my mission to track down a bottle of the 130th Anniversary Edition. It wasn't easy to find, and I certainly paid more than the $140 retail price.  It had already come and gone by that point, so that part wasn't unexpected. But, if only for sentimental reasons, I had to have one. 

It took me a long time to eventually get around to opening it, but I ended up popping the cork when my daughter''s hockey team went to the state championship game. It was a delicious pour that myself and all the other hockey dads and moms enjoyed at around 8:30 a.m. on a Saturday as the game got started. Since then, it's been the bottle I break out when I have friends visit that I haven't seen in years, or when we have something worth celebrating.

Of course, now it's gone, but I certainly don't regret drinking it. Every time I brought out this bottle I got to tell my story of meeting Al Young.  Plus, every time I brought out this bottle I got to enjoy a fantastic bourbon.  Given that each time that I poured a glass I was busy enjoying the company I was with, I wasn't taking notes on my phone, or spending minutes sniffing my Glencairn to discern what notes I could.  I was instead enjoying the moment and the company. As pretentious as that may sound, it's the truth. And so, I don't have tasting notes for this review, and I'll just say it's a damn good bottle!!  My grade below might be a bit biased, but I nonetheless stand behind it 100%!!!

Grade: A+

Four Roses Single Barrel Binny's Private Selection Barrel Strength Kentucky Straight Bourbon - OESF

VITALS:
- $90

- 116.6 Proof

- 11 yrs, 2 mos

- Barrel No. 16-3 M

- Kentucky

Having been through all ten Four Roses recipes at this point, I'm not just picking up these store picks wherever and whenever I see them. The problems with that, though are (1) the price has really jumped -- $90 is a bit of a tough pill to swallow anymore; and (2) despite the increase in price, they're just not that easy to come across. 

But, I've still picked them up here and there, because, in my opinion, it's still some of the best bourbon hitting the shelves. Apparently, though, I've done so without any regard to which recipes I was getting. After my most recent purchase, I realized I was sitting on three different bottles of OESF!  It was at that point that I knew I had to open and drink at least one of them!

The nose came across as rich and spicy and sweet. I got a dark cherry right up front, followed by notes of rich toffee and dark chocolate. There was also a woodiness to it, but it wasn't an oak note. It was lighter, like more of a balsam wood note. In addition to the toffee, there was an added rich but dark sweetness like molasses.

Much like the nose, the flavor had a lot going on, but it certainly leaned towards those dark, rich and sweet notes. Right up front I got notes of anise or black licorice. Not enough to turn me off, but it was noticeable right away.  It also had a peppery spice that hit the tip of my tongue immediately with each sip.

The rich sweetness came through in the form of toffee and brown sugar. There was also the dark chocolate that I was getting from the nose. What kept this from being to 'heavy" was a tangy Amarena cherry note that seemed to come through right in the middle and seemed to perfectly complement everything else going on. 

The finish had many of the same notes--the toffee, the dark chocolate and even a bit of the cherry note. But, it also had a sort of roasty coffee note that seemingly came out of nowhere but was absolutely great! The peppery spice seemed to transform into more of a cinnamon spice that lingered as well.

I know I have two more OESF bottles waiting to be opened, and given how much I loved this one, I'm thinking it won't be long before that happens. This bottle was so rich and full of flavor and absolutely delicious, it even made me forget about the price increase on these bottles!

Grade: A

Four Roses Single Barrel Binny's Private Selection Barrel Strength Kentucky Straight Bourbon - OESO

VITALS:

- $90

- 117 Proof

- 11 Years

- Barrel No. 25-3T

- Kentucky

I just can't say no.  At least not to Four Roses single barrel picks. As I've said in the past, they're always really good, and so often great.  Sure, the price has gone up a bit in recent years.  But, even at $90, to get a barrel strength 11 year bourbon from one of the big guys for that price is still a pretty good deal, particularly when you consider similar premium releases that are quickly leaving the shelves at twice the price.

I've had all ten recipes, so at this point I'm just re-visiting them. It's been six years, though, since I last had a bottle of OESO.  So, this isn't much of a re-visiting but more of a trying out OESO once again, pretty much without any frame of reference.  Of course I have this blog, but beyond what I wrote six years ago, I have no independent recollection of this particular recipe from way back then. 

Right up front I got rich, fruity and sweet notes, but it also had a certain boozy liqueur quality to it. It struck me as a cherry cordial type of note right away. On top of that, though, was an oaky note that I can't say I've gotten very often from these Four Roses single barrels, though I really enjoyed it. It also had some of the traditional caramel and vanilla notes to round it out.

The flavor was very much in line with the nose, but ramped up a bit. That cherry cordial note was the first and last thing that I tasted, leaving little room in between. It was the same note I got on the nose, but punched up quite a bit, particularly on the cherry note.

It also came across as more boozy. Not hot, like an alcohol burn. But boozy in flavor, if that makes sense. Kind of like the difference between a regular chocolate truffle and one made with any sort of liqueur. It has that distinct boozy tang to it, and it really complemented the charry note here.

The finished took a bit of a turn, letting that cherry cordial note subside and giving more of a grain and spice-forward experience. It reminded me a bit of cinnamon cereal, kind of like cinnamon toast crunch.  It also took on some sweet oak notes as well as a distinct chocolate flavor. The nice oily texture made for a good, long finish, and it was that chocolate note that seemed to stick around the longest.

This bottle was consistent from beginning to end, and it took on the characteristics of a cherry cordial so well that I found myself getting cravings for this specific bottle some evenings. I can't say that about a lot of whiskeys, and that's what made this one great!

Grade: A

Four Roses Single Barrel Liquor Barn Private Selection Barrel Strength Kentucky Straight Bourbon - OBSO

VITALS:

- $90

- 106.2 Proof

- 10 Yrs., 7 Mos.

- Barrel No. 4-1R

- Kentucky

Whenever I go to Kentucky, I almost always make it a point to stop by multiple liquor stores, including Liquor Barn, just to see what they might have in stock that I can't get here in Illinois.  I'm not deluded into believing I'm going to find something rare, but each time I've been able to find something different, whether that's simply a store pick of something decent or something that just doesn't make its way to Illinois shelves.

On my last trip I went to the Liquor Barn I'm familiar with hoping to find at the very least a decent store pick, perhaps a Russell's Reserve or a Four Roses pick. But, after perusing the aisles, each and every end cap and even the "rare and limited" cabinet, I was uninspired and resigned myself to the fact that I was leaving empty-handed.  I grabbed some whiskey glasses as a gift, and when I was checking out, I happened to look up and there, sitting on the top shelf behind the register, were the last two bottles of one of their Four Roses picks. My trip was salvaged, and I cracked it open that night!

The nose was absolutely delicious, full of chocolate and peanut butter. In fact the peanut butter note was fairly strong, and it reminded me of nutty buddies (which just happens to be one of my favorite sweet snacks).  I also got a tart cherry note, kind of like a fresh cherry off the tree. 

On my first sip, I immediately noticed that nutty buddy note. I got peanut butter along with a sweet milk chocolate that immediately told me I was going to really enjoy this bottle. In addition to those notes, though, I also got some orange peel and brown sugar. It was kind of like and old fashion with a peanut butter cup shoved in the glass.

I definitely got a bit of cherry but it lacked that tartness that I was getting off the nose. Rather, it was a welcome addition to the peanut butter cup old fashioned flavor I was getting. There was also a bit of an oak note on this, which added some bitterness that kind of replaced the tartness from the cherry. The oak and the chocolate notes seemed to persist the most on what was a long finish, and at the very back end some black pepper spice came through as well, providing just a bit of kick.

The conclusion I reached here is that I need to get more Liquor Barn picks. Whoever picked this barrel has (subjectively) great taste, as this was a delicious Four Roses pick.

Grade: A-

Four Roses Single Barrel Binny's Private Selection Kentucky Straight Bourbon - OBSK

VITALS:

- $90

- 110.6 Proof

- 10 Years

- Barrel No. 10-2Q

- Kentucky

Recently Binny's got a couple rounds of Four Roses private picks in, with some having more age than others. While the price on these has gone up, and while it's become harder to find them with anything over 10 years of age, I've found that the quality of the bourbon inside has not changed. $90 does seem a little steep, but I was still willing to pay it for a 10 year, cask strength, age stated single barrel that was a known commodity.

I've had and reviewed all ten Four Roses recipes on this blog, so now I'm re-treading, and it's fun to look back at what I thought of this recipe the first time around. With respect to the OBSK recipe, however, it might not be a fair comparison, as that one was a gift shop exclusive selected by Brent Elliott. That one almost had to be really good as a matter of course.

The nose on this one was incredibly rich and sweet. I got delicious soft caramel notes as well as a rich chocolate note that made for a great combination. It also had a sort of bite to it, almost like an amaretto liqueur. There was also a sort of baked good notes, like the smell of a pecan pie baking in the oven. I could tell just from the smell that this was a great barrel!

The flavor was right in my wheelhouse as well.  Right up front I got all those great, sweet and rich notes of caramel and chocolate, as well as a bit of cinnamon heat. It tasted like some specialty chocolate treat you'd get at a sweets shop.

As more flavors seemed to come out, while I didn't necessarily get the pecan pie I got on the nose, it still came pretty close. I got a distinct candied pecan note, sweet and nutty. It didn't really come across as baked goods like a pie, but that was just fine by me, as this was delicious. The cinnamon even started to take on more of a cloves note, seemingly ramping up the richness.

The finish reminded me very much of an old fashioned. It was here that I got a rich cherry note that seemed to linger, along with a bright but slightly bitter note of orange peel. It still kept that spiciness as well, with the cinnamon notes providing heat long after I had swallowed.

I'm so glad I went back to this recipe, as this was one of my favorite Four Roses single barrels I can recall having. I can't wait for the next one now!

Grade: A

Four Roses Binny's Private Selection Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon - OBSQ

VITALS:

- $90

- 122.6 Proof

- 10 Years, 8 Months

- Barrel No. 244V

- Kentucky

The last time I reviewed a Four Roses private pick, it was the last of the recipes that I needed to try. Now that I've been able to get my hands on and try all ten recipes, I'm no longer on the lookout for any in particular. While I did have my favorites, given that for most recipes I've only had one bottle of each, it's hardly the kind of sampling that can establish a "favorite" recipe.

So, I can now just grab store picks as I find them, starting with this OBSQ that was aged for almost 11 years. I feel like that kind of age hasn't been found in these single barrels lately, so when I had the chance to grab it, I jumped at it. The fun part about having this blog is I can look back at what I thought about prior bottles. The last time I had an OBSQ was back in 2016, and I thought it was pretty good. Rich, sweet and spicy was apparently the takeaway then. I'm not sure this one was all that different in that respect. 

The nose gave way to that rye spice immediately, as I noticed a healthy amount of cinnamon spice right away. There was also a sort of breadiness to it that reminded me of cinnamon toast. It also had other rich and sweet notes as well, including chocolate and even a light, sweet tobacco leaf note. 

The cinnamon carried through on the flavor as well, though it was more like a rich, candy-like cinnamon flavor that was mixed with an amaretto note. The combination was really good and while very rich (I feel like I'm using that word a lot here), it never got to be too sweet.

I also got a slight anise note that at times seemed to come across as more of a candied cherry note. There was an accompanying chocolate note as well, and paired with that amaretto note, it somewhat reminded me of a cherry cordial. 

The finish was, you guessed it, rich. That amaretto note seemed to stick around the longest, which I'm quite alright with as I love amaretto.  The spicy cinnamon also lingered for quite some time at the back of my throat. The finish on this bourbon really seemed to last forever, and I found myself savoring each sip long after I had swallowed.

This was, once again, a very good Four Roses single barrel pick. I have yet to have one that has disappointed, regardless of recipe or who picked it. 

Grade: A-

Four Roses Single Barrel Meier Private Selection Barrel Strength Kentucky Straight Bourbon - OBSF

VITALS:

- $75

- 107.4 Proof
- 9 years, 11 mos.
- OBSF
- Kentucky

This bottle is kind of a weird one. I was talking with a neighbor one day and he told me that a mutual friend of ours had picked up a cask strength Four Roses single barrel at Meier. Knowing that the only way that could be the case would be if it were a store pick, and doubting that Meier, of all places, would have a Four Roses private barrel, I texted my friend for a picture. What he sent me was equally strange.

While it certainly was a Four Roses Private Selection, it didn't indicate in any way who it was selected by. The label just read, "Specially Selected By" and immediately below that was a cartoon drawing of a barrel on its side. No indication as to who this was selected by or for. That said, when I was next in Meier, I couldn't help myself, and I went to the liquor store aisle, and there, pushed all the way to the back of the shelf, was one remaining bottle. I took a look, saw the OBSF mashbill and the 9 years, 11 months age statement, and I figured, "What the hell!" At the very least I was curious about this mystery selection.

The nose seemed to have a significant cereal note to it, as well as a healthy amount of cinnamon. It was kind of like cinnamon Cheerios, or even Cinnamon Toast Crunch but with the sugar dialed down a bit. I also got a light chocolate note along with a light peanut note. There was also a bright but slightly bitter orange peel note on the nose as well.

The first note that I got when I took my first sip was an Old Fashioned. The cherry was right up front, with more of that Maraschino cherry flavor. I also got that same orange peel note that I was getting on the nose. It even had a bit of a splash of cola, which really seemed, for some reason, to round out that Old Fashioned note. 

There was a bit of an odd note that I got as well, something like a cleaning solvent. My mind went right to that stuff you use to clean wood that smells like orange, but I've never actually tried tasting that, so I'm not sure if that's a fair comparison or not.  It's what I'd imagine that stuff tastes like.  It wasn't a strong note, but it was there.

On later pours the cherry and cinnamon really seemed to take center stage. The cinnamon always remains sweet with a light spice, kind of like cinnamon cereal, I guess.  The cherry note, however, seemed to stray from that great Maraschino flavor to more of an artificial cherry candy flavor. I know many people like this note, but I'm not among them. 

Unfortunately, on the finish that cherry candy note came across as more of a cherry cough syrup or cough drop that seemed to linger, particularly in the back of my throat. This was certainly a bit of a turnoff to me, and I was surprised that this note seemed to develop toward the end. It's not often that I get a bottle that seemed to taste worse on the last few pours than on the first few, but this was one. That said, the mystery behind it still intrigues me, and I know if given the chance I'd do it all over again.

Grade: B-

Four Roses Small Batch Select Kentucky Straight Bourbon

VITALS:

- $45

- 104 Proof

- NAS

- Kentucky

It's not often that a bottle will have particular sentimental value to me, but when one does, it seems to stick. It's often tied to a memory or event, good or bad, that that particular bottle is forever associated with. George T. Stagg has always been one of those bottles for me, tied to events and circumstances in my life that I'll forever remember. And every time I come across George T. Stagg, I'm brought right back there.

In this particular instance, I got to try Four Roses Small Batch Select back when it was first introduced to the market. In fact, it was even before it was available here in Illinois.  I had the luck to score tickets to a tasting with the late, great Al Young at Warehouse Liquors in Chicago. The event was, in part, to promote some new barrel picks that Warehouse had just gotten in, but it was also part of Al's tour promoting the new product. We got to taste this bourbon, as well as four different private picks and the 130th Anniversary Small Batch. Needless to say it was a hell of a night and one that I'll never forget. I had so much fun spending time with Al Young, and seeing this bottle actually makes me a little sad because it just reminds me that he passed away shortly thereafter.

However, a good friend of mine gave me this bottle (I actually never bought my own), and now I finally have the chance to give it the review it deserves.  The nose had a lot of cinnamon, providing a sweet spiciness, along with a nice layer of vanilla. It had some chocolate notes as well, and, oddly enough, I swear I got the aroma of a snack cake, like a Twinkie.  It smelled absolutely delicious.

On my first sip, the first thing I noticed was the texture. I noticed this when I had it the first time as well, and that is that this bourbon does not drink at its proof. The alcohol burn is almost non-existent, which is surprising for a 104 proof whiskey. That may appeal to some and not to others. To me, it was simply dangerous, as that proof tended to hit me harder than expected.

As to flavor, it was a bit different than what I was getting on the nose. I got a decent amount of the traditional toffee and vanilla notes. I did get the chocolate I got from the nose, but it wasn't nearly as sweet. It was more of a dark chocolate note, even with a touch of that bitterness.

It had a light cinnamon note to it, like cinnamon candy. But, what struck me more was the ginger that I got out of this. It had a distinct gingerbread note to it that, once I noticed it, I couldn't not notice. There was also a bit of oak to add to that bitter, dry quality as well.

The finish was even a bit different still. There I got a cherry note that I didn't find elsewhere. It was a sweeter cherry, and even with a touch of liqueur, kind of like a cherry cordial. It was on the finish that the cinnamon spice seemed to really come through as well.

This bourbon was unquestionably complex, and it did seem to go in a number of directions.  When I had it the first time, I was, admittedly, a bit underwhelmed. However, that my have been due to the fact that this pour was immediately preceded by the 130th Anniversary, which was incredible. This time around, while it still came across a bit more watery than expected, it also had a lot more going on from a flavor standpoint, and I certainly enjoyed it a lot more. It's certainly one I'd recommend to anyone that hasn't tried it yet. 

Grade: B+

Four Roses Single Barrel Binny's Private Selection Kentucky Straight Bourbon - OBSO

VITALS:
- $70
- 110.6 Proof
- 8 yrs., 9 mos.
- Kentucky

This is a bit of a milestone bottle for me. I've been making my way through each of the 10 Four Roses recipes, but the last one, the OBSO, was quite elusive. After a couple years of searching and striking out, I asked Al Young himself at an event I was attending why I never saw this recipe on store shelves. Needless to say, I was a bit disheartened when he told me the whiskey was just too young and wasn't included in the private barrel program.

I had accepted my fate and the fact that it'd probably be a few more years before I had a chance to grab a bottle of this final recipe I needed. But then, only a handful of months later, Binny's got in a few different Four Roses private selections, and sure enough, one of them was an OBSO! It's been a long time since I've been that excited to get a bottle, even counting some of the limited and allocated stuff I've lucked into. I finally get to say that I've had all ten recipes (and have reviewed all ten on this blog). That and a couple bucks will at least get me a cup of coffee!

As for the whiskey itself, the nose was softer than what I've experienced in other Four Roses single barrels. Usually I get hit right up front with bold spiciness. Here, the nose was softer, with brown sugar and caramel at the front. I also got some dark fruits like raisins and cherries, as well as a prominent banana note. All in all, it reminded me of Bananas Foster, and I thought it smelled amazing.

My first impressions on the taste was that this was sweeter than other Four Roses single barrels I've had. I got a lot of cherry and orange up front, along with a light cinnamon note adding just a touch of spice. I also got a light anise note to add just a bit of nuance and character.

The finish seemed to be almost entirely caramel, as the spice seemed to disappear quickly, and the cherry and orange notes seemed to slowly fade away. I also got a nice, cooling mint note on the finish that was surprising but very welcome.

After a few pours, though, the cherry flavor that I initially liked and thought went well with the orange turned into more of a medicinal cherry note, like cherry cough syrup. I thought perhaps it was just me, or just an off day for my palate, but later pours confirmed this note. I even had my father-in-law try it and he got the same flavor. It was somewhat off-putting and disappointing, as I had otherwise been enjoying it.

I will say, however, that when I poured it over just a couple small cubes of ice, that medicinal cherry note disappeared entirely, and it became more of a dessert-like whiskey. I got a lot of caramel and brown sugar, and also a pastry note that reminded me of honey buns. It was quite the transformation, and I was a bit perplexed, as I just wasn't a huge fan of it neat.

All in all, this wasn't my favorite of the recipes, and would be on the low end if I were to rank them. I know each bottle is different, and I would certainly try an OBSO recipe again. On private picks it's more about the person picking it than the recipe itself. But, it was fun reaching this arbitrary goal of trying all ten and looking back at what I liked and didn't.  For what it's worth, my favorite was the OESF bottle I got from Binny's a few years back. That bottle blew me away!

Grade: B

Four Roses Single Barrel Warehouse Liquors Private Selection Kentucky Straight Bourbon - OESV

VITALS:
- $75
- 121.2 Proof
- 9 years, 7 months
- OESV
- Kentucky

A while back I attended a whiskey tasting at Warehouse Liquors in Chicago. It happened to be a tasting with Al Young, wherein we got to taste the 130 Anniversary Small Batch Limited Edition, the new Small Batch Select, and four new (at that time) Warehouse Liquors private selection single barrel picks. Needless to say, it was an incredible time, and among the private picks that we tasted that night, this was my favorite.

Before writing this blog, I looked back at my notes from that night to compare to my notes I took as I sipped my way through this bottle, months later.  At the time of the tasting, these were my notes:

It seemed to lean more towards traditional bourbon notes than the others did, with lots of caramel, a great, creamy, buttery texture, and a long, kettle corn finish. I absolutely loved this one and a bottle came home with me that night.

So, now that I got the chance to enjoy a full bottle before writing a review, here's what my notes reflect. The nose was all brown sugar and dark cherry, a great combination. It also had a bit of a chalkiness to the nose. I know that sounds more like a texture than an aroma, but it had that fourth grade classroom smell to it. There was also a definite cinnamon spice to it as well that tickled the nostrils a bit.

As to the flavor, brown sugar and cinnamon predominated. It also had a certain woody bitterness, combining into a sort of candied cinnamon stick flavor. Though the brown sugar was there, I did wish it were just a touch sweeter.

I also got a certain bitter bite, like an orange pith note. This, along with the cinnamon and wood, seemed to lead to a bit of an astringency quality. As I look back at my earlier notes, this was something I didn't notice then.

However, despite that astringency quality, there was still a lot to love about this bourbon. It also had notes of honey and graham cracker, giving it a sort of flaky apple pie crust type flavor. Any sweetness that came through, however, was always tempered. At times there was almost a sawdust note to it (perhaps that chalky note I got on the nose).

Ultimately, though, the wood and cinnamon were prominent throughout. As I made notes with each pour I tasted, I never got the creamy, buttery texture, nor did I get that long, kettle corn finish. In fact, I didn't love it nearly as much as I did that first time. Perhaps it was the atmosphere that contributed. In the end, this was still a really good, complex pour. With a little extra sweetness and a little less of that astringent quality, it would have been a great pour.

Grade: B

Drinking With a Legend - A Night With Al Young at Warehouse Liquors

The other night I got to be a "lucky duck" -- at least that's what we were called in our confirmation e-mails.  I was one of only about 30 or so people who managed to score a ticket for a private tasting with Al Young at Warehouse Liquors in Chicago.  As many in the bourbon world are aware, Gene, the owner of Warehouse Liquors, is well-known and has a sort of cult following for his store picks. In conjunction with his most recent Four Roses selections, he put on this tasting with the one and only Al Young!

As my buddy and I walked into the room, a sort of bowling alley of a tasting room with place settings lined up on both sides, we immediately went straight to the front and parked ourselves right next to where Al was standing in hopes that that's where he'd remain throughout the night.

As people trickled into the room over the next twenty minutes or so, aside from the people who came up to introduce themselves, take pictures and shake his hand, we had pretty much a good ten minutes of one-on-one time with Al to just shoot the shit, talking with him about the charity event he attended the day before, his time in Lexington the past few days, and even a little bit about the bourbon he drinks.

Throughout the evening, we got to taste four different store picks that Gene had recently selected for Warehouse Liquors, in the following order:

• OESV - 9 yrs., 7 mos. - 121.2 Proof
• OBSV - 9 yrs., 10 mos. - 114.2 Proof
• OESK - 10 yrs., 8 mos - 106.6 Proof
• OBSQ - 9 yrs., 10 mos. - 112.4 Proof

Interestingly, we started with the highest proof one first -- the OESV.  I'm not sure if the order was arbitrary or not, but ultimately, of the four, this is the one that we went back to to try again, and it ended up being  my favorite. It seemed to lean more towards traditional bourbon notes than the others did, with lots of caramel, a great, creamy, buttery texture, and a long, kettle corn finish. I absolutely loved this one and a bottle came home with me that night.

The OBSV was a short-barrel. I'm not sure how many bottles came from it, but it's my understanding it was very limited. While this was the one that sold out first, it ended up being my least favorite, as it had a significant astringent quality to it, making me reach for my bottle of water immediately. I really liked the OESK and the OBSQ as well, and both were tied for a close second for me.  The OESK was the most unique of the barrels, as I got a white wine, almost a pinot grigio note out of it. It sounds weird, and it's the first time that I've ever gotten such a note off a bourbon, but it worked really well with the vanilla and light anise flavors. The OBSQ leaned more towards softer wood and caramel notes, with a light orange zest to it. The fact of the matter is, if you get the opportunity to purchase any of these bottles, do so!

In addition to these store picks, we also got to taste the 130th Anniversary Small Batch, which was absolutely amazing (and my buddy and I may or may not have snuck a couple extra pours when people weren't looking) as well as the Small Batch Select, which isn't yet available in our market. While Al was there, at least in part, to talk up the new Four Roses product, he legitimately seemed very proud, touting the higher proof (104 proof) and that it is non-chill filtered. He seemed genuinely eager to get feedback from everyone in the room about their thoughts. While everyone really enjoyed it (myself included--it drinks much lower than its proof), the consensus was that he did it a disservice by having it follow the 130th.

Even despite getting to taste all this great bourbon, however, what made the night was Al himself.. I had never met Al before, and my immediate impression was that he is truly a man of the people. He was not there just on another stop to hawk his products. He genuinely enjoyed meeting people, answering their questions, discussing bourbon, telling stories (both personal and industry-related), signing copies of his book and giving his time to anyone that wanted it.

The highlight for me (other than his mention of a desire to eventually produce a Four Roses Rye--yay!) was hearing him tell stories about his home life, particularly about how proud his wife was when Four Roses released a bourbon named after him.  It was that or his double-take when asked, when doing tastings, whether he spits or swallows. Al is a great storyteller and has a wonderful (and even at times crass) sense of humor.

I had never met Al Young before, and within minutes of meeting him, I wished I had met him sooner. As I told him at the end of the night, I've met a handful of industry icons, leaders and what have you, and meeting Jimmy Russel always stuck with me, because he was genuine. He truly loved interacting with his customers and meeting people, and it came through. Al Young is right there as well. He is as friendly and inviting, and more importantly, as genuine as they come! This was easily one of the best tastings I've ever been a part of.

Four Roses Single Barrel Binny's Private Selection Kentucky Straight Bourbon - OESQ

VITALS:
- $65
- 123.6 Proof
- 8 years, 9 months
- Kentucky

So here it is, recipe #9 of the ten different Four Roses recipes that I've had the chance of trying, leaving only the OBSO left to try (and I welcome any leads in the Chicago-land area!). At this point I've come to the conclusion that regardless of recipe, the Four Roses private barrel picks are can't-lose bottles, and I certainly recommend them to anyone that may come across one or more.

This OESQ recipe is a 20% rye mashbill and is described as having a "floral essence." Though that seems a bit odd to me for a bourbon, the OESF that I had came with a similar description and that was one of the best bourbons I've ever had. This is also the youngest of the Four Roses Private Selections that I've had, and in fact the youngest that I've ever seen bottled.

Despite that, however, this was an absolutely delicious bourbon! The nose was full of cinnamon, a nice, Christmas-y spice to it. It also had a nice, mellow caramel note to it that helped to offset the alcohol fumes.

The palate, though, was rich and decadent, offering much more than the traditional cinnamon and caramel notes. Right up front I was hit with dark fruit notes, like raisin or plum, which was nonetheless underscored by a nice layer of caramel.

This bourbon also had a great viscosity to it, that allowed those delicious, rich, dessert-like flavors to carry from beginning to end, coating the mouth with flavor! By the second pour, the alcohol burn from both the nose and the palate had faded, leaving behind only flavor, and allowing the whiskey to really sweeten up.

What was raisin before sweetened to a more caramel appel flavor, but a nice, crisp, tart apple, like a Granny Smith. With additional notes of peanut and brown sugar, this really turned into an absolutely delicious pour, one that I couldn't help myself but to keep going back to over other bottles.

Towards the end it also seemed to develop a rich amaretto flavor, that seemed to complement perfectly the raisin, caramel and apple notes that were present throughout. Aside from that dark fruit note that was always there, the other real consistency with this bourbon was the richness of it, especially after it was open for a bit and the alcohol started to fade. This is one where I was disappointed when the bottle was finished, as I wished I had enough for at least one more pour.

Grade A

Four Roses Single Barrel Binny's Private Selection Kentucky Straight Bourbon - OESK

VITALS:
- $60
- 107.8 Proof
- 9 years, 8 months
- Region: Kentucky

Let me start out by saying that the Four Roses Single Barrel private selections will, after I've had a chance to get through all ten recipes, or perhaps even before then, be one of those bourbons that I will grab off the shelf every time I see it. Each private selection that I've tried has been nothing short of very good, and a few have been great.

This recipe, OESK, is my eighth of the ten different recipes, and it held true to the above premise. Although I might not describe this one as "great," it is nonetheless very good, and far from a disappointment or giving me buyer's remorse.

On the nose there was surprisingly no burn at all. Rather, it was full of the familiar scents of cinnamon and a whole bunch of vanilla. It even had a bit of a buttery note on the nose that made me never want to stop sniffing the stuff.

On the first few pours, there was a light cinnamon spice, and the wood tones were stronger than I'm used to getting in Four Roses bourbons. What set it apart even more, however, was the very distinct dark chocolate flavor. Between the wood and the dark chocolate flavors, there wasn't much sweetness up front.

Over time, however, that changed. It did sweeten up pretty significantly, yet it still maintained that cinnamon spice. Rather than wood tones, it took on more of an almond flavor and lost some of the edge it initially had. It really smoothed out and had a sort of red hots mixed with amaretto thing going.

The dark chocolate tones stuck around throughout, and I got an added peanut butter flavor in the latter half of the bottle that was subtle, but once I noticed it, I couldn't not notice it, if that makes sense.

Needless to day, this bottle had quite a bit going for it. While I wouldn't say the flavors blended perfectly together, they were pleasant, unique and nonetheless very tasty. It didn't change in profile as much as I thought it would, but it did improve over time, and the flavors that developed were . . . fun? Yeah, I'll go with fun.

Grade: B+

Four Roses Binny's Private Selection Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon - OESV

VITALS:
- $60
- 107.8 Proof
- 9 Years, 7 Months

This is recipe number seven of the ten different Four Roses recipes that I've had the chance to try (and I've got OESK sitting in reserve--just need to find an OESQ and an OBSO). Spoiler alert--as with every other Four Roses private selection I've tried, this one is also very, very good, even if not the best of the bunch.

The nose on this one is mild, certainly milder than past private single barrels I've had, which have always come across to me as being very bold and in your face both in smell and flavor. It is heavy on the caramel and vanilla, and it has a more pronounced woodiness to it than others. Interestingly, though, there as a noticeable wintergreen mint note to it, something I've only noticed before in certain ryes.

The palate is full-bodied and rich, heavy on the cinnamon and vanilla, kind of like a chai tea latte type of flavor. The cinnamon spice lingers at the back of the throat for a nice, long time. There are also distinct cinnamon notes, kind of a corn flake flavor that I usually don't get from Four Roses products. What wasn't there, at least on my first taste, was that wintergreen flavor that I got from the nose.

Despite its proof, this bourbon had no real burn. Rather, it was a complex and flavorful bourbon, thick and oily, yet very easy to drink. That oily texture really coated my mouth, allowing all the flavors to linger for a bit, and after a few sips, that's when I noticed that cool minty-nesss, not on my tongue or at the back of the throat, but rather on the roof of my mouth, seemingly just lingering there.

Towards the end of the bottle, the caramel flavor really took center stage, like I was drinking a Werther's Original. That cooling mint that I was looking for at first stuck around throughout, but was more of an afterthought. Rather, it was that rich, thick caramel coating that was prominent. The last few pours had sweetened significantly, making for a damn good drink.

If I were grading on the last couple pours only, this is an A+. Although I wish it had been that good throughout, though, it was nonetheless very enjoyable from beginning to end, even with the odd mint and corn flake notes thrown in there.

Grade: A-

Four Roses Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon OESF - Binny's Private Selection

VITALS:
- $60
- 119.8 Proof
- 9 Years, 10 Months

I'm inching ever so close to trying each of the ten Four Roses recipes. When I picked this one up, that put me up to 8 that I've found, two of which are still sitting in reserve waiting to be opened. I'm still looking for the OBSO and OESQ recipes.

For those of you who may not know what I'm talking about with respect to the different Four Roses recipes and these odd character combinations, rather than go into it here, I'll direct you to Four Roses' website, where they have a nice infographic explaining everything - http://fourrosesbourbon.com/four-roses-bourbon-infographic/

What's interesting is when I read the different flavor profiles of the five different yeast strains, I feel like the V, K and O strains would be right up my alley. Their descriptions seem to be along the more traditional path as far as the flavors go, with K being pretty much what I look for in a bourbon - "Light spiciness, light caramel and full-bodied."

And yet (albeit with four recipes left to try), I've found myself enjoying this OESF the most! Who knew that I'd be most taken by the yeast strain described as "Essences of herbal aromas." Honestly, this is the one that, before trying any of them, I would pick as likely to be my least favorite.

I also tend to favor higher-rye mashbills. And yet, this is the E mashbill, with only 20% rye (as opposed to the B mashbill at 35% rye). So out of the ten recipes, if I went on descriptors alone, this would be the recipe I'd be the least excited to try.

But I've already spoiled it, and, as I said above, so far it's my favorite! Despite the lower rye mashbill, I still notice the rye/cinnamon spice on the nose. This nose was very complex and rich, however, and I also picked up notes of cherry, coffee and brown sugar. It was so good I just wanted to snort it right up!

But I thought better of it, and enjoyed the bourbon in the traditional manner, and man am I glad I did! It was sweeter up front than I had expected. I got a lot of toffee, balanced by that coffee flavor that I got on the nose, which likely helped keep it from being overly sweet. Some subtle wine notes crept through as well, rich and soft fruit flavors like a velvety pinot noir.

It also had a decent burn, up front. However, that gave way pretty quickly to a syrupy, lip-smacking, sweet finish that was paralleled by a cinnamon spice finish.

The end result was I found myself licking my lips after each drink and fiending for the next hit! After each swallow the back of my throat was coated in a sweet butterscotch flavor while the cinnamon spice still lingered on the tip of my tongue.

I have to admit, I did not notice the "Essences of herbal aromas," and luckily I didn't read that until after I finished the bottle and went to write this post. Not knowing that, I wasn't actively looking for it or otherwise tainted by that description. What I did notice was that this bourbon was rich, complex, sweet and spicy and absolutely one of my favorite bourbons I've ever had!

Grade: A+

Four Roses Binny's Private Selection Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon OESO

VITALS:
- $60
- 118.2 Proof
- 9 Years, 8 Months
- Barrel No. 81-40

This is the fifth recipe that I've managed to get my hands on, putting me right at the halfway point. Many thanks to Binny's consistent efforts to make these private selections! I don't know how difficult it will be to find the last two when I get to that point, but I am certainly looking forward to that chase.

In the meantime, I couldn't wait to pop this one open as it had been a bit since my last. The nose is a distinct leathery scent. mixed with vanilla and baking spices, kind of an allspice or cloves scent. This combo made for a great nose, and that tangy spice was certainly a hint of what was to come.

The first thing that really struck me with this bourbon was its incredibly oily texture. I've never had a bourbon that coated the mouth as much as this one does. This is an incredibly full bodied bourbon with some long, sturdy legs on it!

The initial sip gave of lots of almond and vanilla, but it also had a certain tang to it, kind of like amaretto liqeur. I couldn't quite place that tang, but it was almost a brandy-esque flavor, with light fruit notes to underscore the almond and vanilla.

It also gives off towards the end a decent burnt sugar flavor, which, after swallowing, transformed to a nice caramel flavor that would just sit at the back of my throat and hang out there for a while. The combination of everything results in a sweet nutty-ness, kind of like toffee coated peanuts, but with an interesting twist.

After the bottle had been open for a few weeks, the sweet almond flavor seemed to really take front and center, and it was underscored by a light licorice note, perhaps what was previously the tangy allspice/brandy note.

This is a very complex, very bold and very rich bourbon. It had a lot of flavors going on, but they all seemed to come together to make for a delicious and interesting pour. It's been a while since I've been truly disappointed to have finished the last drop of a bottle, but such was the case with this one.

Grade: A

Four Roses Binny's Private Selection Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon OBSQ

VITALS:
- $60
- 116.8 Proof
- 9 Years, 2 Months

Each time I spot some private selections at the store, I make it a point to check my notes as to which ones I've tried so far. Binny's had three different selections on the shelf a few months back, and, even though I'd only had three up to that point, two of them were ones I've already tried. One was all I needed, though, so I grabbed the OBSQ without hesitation.

The one thing I've found I can count on with these private selections is that, while you do get differences in flavor and style, you consistently get a solid pour, and this was no exception.

The nose, while bearing the traditional caramel and brown sugar tones, really comes across as a vanilla bomb. It made my mouth water instantly, as I could tell that this was going to be rich and sweet.

True to its nose, this OBSQ was, indeed, rich and sweet. The vanilla carried through the nose and onto the palate, being the first and foremost flavor that I noticed. The rye spice in this recipe really comes into play as well (it's a 35% rye mashbill), providing a nice cinnamon spice at the back end of the smooth vanilla and brown sugar flavors.

The complexity of this bourbon really came through as I let the bottle sit a few weeks and then went back for more. It actually developed a light, crisp fruitiness to it.  It wasn't a citrus flavor, but rather almost pear-like, like pears baked in butter and brown sugar. This light fruitiness was balanced out by a cereal flavor akin to toasted Cheerios. All in all, these flavors all blended wonderfully together. Although I've never tried such a concoction, it's what I would imagine a baked pear pie would taste like.

As noted above, this was overall an incredibly solid pour, very drinkable despite its high proof and very complex, offering not only the delicious, traditional bourbon flavors but providing some unique touches of its own that really worked.

Grade: A-

Four Roses Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon OBSK - Master Distiller Selection - Gift Shop Exclusive

VITALS:
- $70
- 104.8 Proof
- 8 years, 6 Months

On my recent trip to Louisville, I went into the Four Roses gift shop with a purpose--to find a gift shop exclusive private selection, one I hadn't had before. The gift shop only had three offerings, but luckily for me, one of those was an OBSK, a recipe I hadn't had before, selected by Brent Elliot, Four Roses' master distiller, exclusively for the gift shop.

Once back on the bus, I didn't hesitate to ask for a cup so I could immediately pour this and try it out. I was not disappointed! On the nose I was hit with a strong vanilla scent, which was accented by a distinct maltiness as well as the tell-tale spiciness of a high-rye bourbon.

The flavor did not have any of that malt flavor, though. The first few drinks were prominently cherry and cinnamon, with the traditional vanilla flavor coming behind it. A peppery spice made its way through on the back end as well, offering a great blend of sweet up front and spicy at the back end.

Interestingly, I found that over the next few weeks, this bottle significantly changed and was a very different bourbon at the end. The cherry flavor seemed to disappear, and in its place was almond mixing with chocolate and vanilla, which sounds like it would come across as incredibly sweet, but that was not the case here.

Rather, these flavors were complemented by a smokiness, stronger than I've ever noticed in a bourbon before, and reminiscent of a peated Scotch. And yet, that malt from the nose never seemed to make its appearance. I really enjoyed the smokey vanilla flavor with the almond undertones as I finished off my last few pours of this, and it was one of those bottles where I was a little sad when it was over.

Though it seemed to almost be two different bourbons from the beginning to the end of the bottle, it was nonetheless fantastic throughout. This one was younger than most of the private bottlings, but Mr. Elliot did a great job in selecting a fantastic barrel for this particular bottling, and I could not be happier to have had the chance to grab it while I was at Four Roses.

Grade: A

Pilgrimage to the Kentucky Bourbon Trail - Day 2

First off, let me start by saying that waking up in a bed & breakfast is one of the best feelings. Even with a slight hangover, I couldn't help but enjoy waking to the smell of breakfast cooking, bacon, eggs, coffee.  It was absolutely amazing.  After getting ready and getting some food in my belly (I'm not much of a breakfast person, but I do enjoy the smells!), we headed over to start our tours.

The first stop on our tour was Buffalo Trace Distillery. I finally got my chance to see the stacks and stacks of barrels aging in the rickhouses. I was amazed at how cramped those places are and how low the ceilings are. They really pack those barrels in there, which makes total sense of course. I don't know what I expected, but I couldn't help but take notice of those tight quarters. We also got to see the hand-bottling line in action as a dozen or so workers operated the assembly line, filling, sealing, labeling and packaging some Blanton's, right in front of us! Acetone smell aside, this was definitely one of the cooler parts of the tour.

And, of course, we got to do a tasting at the end. They shared some Wheatley Vodka, White Dog, Buffalo Trace, Eagle Rare and Bourbon Cream. The White Dog and Bourbon Cream were both firsts for me, and both at very opposite ends of the spectrum. White Dog is some powerful stuff, with an incredibly strong alcohol burn at the back. I couldn't really blame the bachelor party that was on the tour with us for downing them like shots. The Bourbon Cream, which I've never had before, was absolutely amazing paired with the root beer they provided us. All in all, my first distillery tour was a great experience, even if I was a bit disappointed by the limited selection of bourbons at the gift shop.

From there we went to Four Roses. As our tour guide noted heading there, it really does look out of place. The buildings have a Spanish style to them that makes them look like they belong somewhere in Southern California, and not in the hills of Kentucky. It's a beautiful facility, though. Although we did not get to do a full tour there, we did get to enjoy a very nice tasting outside under the pavilion. Even though I've had all three of the bourbons we tasted many times each, this was still one of the more well-done tastings of the entire trip. As a bonus, Four Roses was very generous with the souvenir glasses they let everyone take home, even wrapping up extras for those that wanted them. I also picked up an private single barrel OBSK hand-selected by Brent Elliot, their master distiller, exclusively for the gift shop.

After a lunch at Staxx BBQ (delicious!), we then headed to Wild Turkey. I was initially impressed simply with the sheer sprawl that their facilities have. Their piece of property is huge and has incredible views of the river. The tour was pretty amazing as well, particularly seeing the incredibly large-scale distillation plan. Plus, it ended with a great tasting where nearly their full line was made available to choose from. The highlight of the day, however, was walking into the visitor center and seeing the legend, Jimmy Russell just hanging out in a chair off to the side. He was the nicest man--had a photograph, an autograph and a smile for everyone there, and the place was packed. I would have loved to take the time to talk to him a bit, but he was clearly busy being a man of the people.

I wish I had a few more paragraphs to write about the night we had after that, but, to be honest, eventually it all kind of blurred together, especially as I finish this post a couple days removed. However, I did make it to a couple liquor stores to finally grab some of those bottles that just don't make it to Illinois for one reason or another. I picked up some Mellow Corn, Evan Williams Bottled-in-Bond, and Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond. At the first store I went to, I specifically asked for the Heaven Hill BIB, but the owner told me the stuff is getting hard to find, even in Kentucky. I was a bit deflated, as I was particular on the hunt for a couple bottles of that stuff. So I left, walked about a block and a half to the next store, and this hard-to-find-even-in-Kentucky stuff was everywhere I looked, on the shelves in numbers, and even on a display by the register. I was thrilled and could only laugh at the response I received at the other store.

Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch 2015 Barrel Strength KentuckyStraight Bourbon

VITALS:
- $120.00
- 108.6 Proof
- Bottle #5986/12672

As I entered one of my favorite shops, I walked through the door, said my usual "hello" to the daytime manager and, as I turned my head just slightly toward the bourbon selection, my eyes locked in on the Four Roses Small Batch bottle sitting alone on a shelf in the store's glass cabinet. "That can't be what I think it is, can it?!?" I bee-lined it straight for that bottle, and my eyes must have lit up at the sight of the 2015 Limited Edition Small Batch, just sitting there, waiting for me to take it to its new home. Needless to say, I was happy to oblige!

Knowing I was one of the lucky few to locate a bottle in the wild, for the longest time I struggled over whether to open it or save it for a special occasion. Luckily for me, New Year's Eve was only a few weeks away, and it provided just the excuse. What better way to welcome in 2016?

The 2015 release is a blend of three recipes: OBSK aged 16 years; OESK aged 15 years; OESK aged 14 years; and OBSV aged 11 years. I guess that puts this release at an average age of 14 years, certainly well-above anything else Four Roses has on the shelves, including its private selection single barrels.

When I first opened the bottle, I couldn't help but notice the fruity nose, mixed with cinnamon and vanilla. The nose was soft and inviting, and I eagerly poured my first glass.

Though it's a higher proof bourbon, 108.6 proof, there was almost no burn. People frequently describe whiskey as "smooth." Well, this was smooth, but in a different way than I believe that term is so often use. This bourbon had a velvety smoothness to it, casually coating my mouth with sweet, rich and savory flavors all at once, and seemingly lingering forever.

Up front I noticed strong flavors of caramel and pecans, relatively traditional in that sense. A very slight bite of oak hit the tip of my tongue right away, but that quickly dissipated. The caramel pecan flavor was underscored by cereal notes reminiscent of Frosted Flakes.

After each swallow the back of my throat was coated in a butterscotch flavor that I found myself savoring before going on to the next sip. As I said, this bourbon really coated my mouth in a sweet, velvety smooth texture that just didn't want to go away.

Later through the bottle some of the rye spices I've come to expect from Four Roses came through, coupling well with the sweet cereal flavor to provide something akin to an amaretto flavor, though it took me a while to place it.

The last few dregs were very caramel heavy, making it very much a dessert whiskey! It was incredibly enjoyable, and became increasingly more so the more I had!

I counted myself lucky being able to grab one of these bottles at retail, particularly since it has been touted by many as the best release of 2015. While I never made a top bourbons of 2015 list, there's no question that this one is at least in my top three.

Grade: A