Sipp’n Corn Tasting Notes: 2019 Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch

I love this time of the year!  It’s Bourbon Heritage Month and that means Four Roses releases its annual Limited Edition Small Batch.  With its unique 10 recipes Four Roses has a tremendous single barrel program, but it really allows Four Roses to shine by blending, which no other distillery can match.

This year Master Distiller Brent Elliott used the following recipes and ages:

OESV – 11 years
OESV – 15 years
OESK – 15 years
OBSV – 21 years

While the percentages were not disclosed, this Limited Edition is mostly the lower-rye recipe mash bill (although of course at 20% rye grain that’s still far more rye that other distillers use), and a majority of the “V” yeast, which Four Roses describes as “delicate fruit.”

Four Roses Limited Edition Tasting Notes

Bourbon:        2019 Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Distillery:       Four Roses, Lawrenceburg, Kentucky (and aged at Cox’s Creek)
Age:                 11-21 years (% not disclosed)
ABV:                56.3% (112.6 proof)
Cost:                $140.00
Bottles:           13,440 for U.S. distribution only

Appearance:
Old copper.

Nose:
Unmistakable Four Roses dark berries, honey, caramel, and oak and as well-rounded as I can imagine.

Taste:
Whoa—Four Roses touts being “Mellow,” and this Limited Edition nails Mellow.  It’s silky, has subtle complexity of butterscotch, berries, and vanilla cream balanced by cinnamon and oak.  This is an elegant bourbon that keeps revealing more flavors sip after sip.  This is a bottle that will go way too fast.

Finish:
Long, full, sweet and buttery with a lingering balance of oak.

Bottom Line

I don’t know how Four Roses continues to perform at this level.  First, in my book Small Batch Select destroyed the field this year for best new bourbon of 2019.  But this whole time Four Roses had an Ace in the hole; its 2019 Limited Edition Small Batch has got to be in the running for best bourbon of the year.  This is a fantastic bourbon that should be tops on your hunting list this fall.  Look for it at the distillery and at the bottling facility on September 21, and then at retailers later in the month.

Disclaimer: The brand managers kindly sent me a sample
for this review, without any strings attached.
Thank you.