Four Roses Small Batch Bourbon Review and Tasting Notes

The Story

The other weekend I was eating a burger at one of my favorite bars.  I cast my eye over the whiskies behind the bar and was immediately blown away.

To give a little background on this bar, however, you'll understand why trepidation struck me just after the awe did.

This place is expensive.  Very expensive.  In fact, I make a point to only dine there on the "burger deal" night, when the burger and draft beer are half off (even at 50% off, the burger is still $11!).

My curiosity got the better of me, however, so I asked the bartender for the booze menu.  I roamed down the list.  Macallan 18, a perennial leader on my "to-try" list for $30 dollars.  Several other favorites at similarly crazy costs.

Four Roses Small Batch, however, was at a not-extortionate $6 per glass.

Okay.

I gave it a shot and jotted down some tasting notes.  Check it out below.

For the record, my bourbon palate is nowhere near as well developed as my scotch palate, but I did my best.


Tasting Notes

Nose: Floral bouquet mingled with a beautiful vanilla.  Some spicy cinnamon is available.  An elegant oak lingers behind it.  Unfortunately, adding water seemed to kill the nose a bit, although it brought forward the scent of fresh cut grass.

Palate: Roasted red peppers.  That is the best way I can describe the dominant flavors, because it envelopes the three strongest characteristics: a malted sweetness with a light char to it, some red peppers, and a grassiness just under the base.  There is a caramel and molasses base that is mingled with a surprisingly light vanilla.  On the side I found cinnamon mixed with nutmeg.  If I have a complaint about the palate, it's the disappointingly light mouthfeel.  Water brings caramel forward and enhances the malty sweetness.  It also virtually kills the mouthfeel.

Finish:  Dry and woody with some smoke and lingering pepperiness.  I thought the finish was of middling length if somewhat on the short side.  Water kills it just as with the mouthfeel.


Review

This was a nice bourbon.  I enjoyed my glass of Four Roses Small Batch, particularly the way the peppery flavors mingled with the sweetness and the spices.  It was like takes a deep pull of a spice cabinet that had been mellowed by a malted base.

If I had any complaints, the first would be the disappointing mouthfeel as well as finish.  The complexity and strength of the flavor profile is enough to still give this bourbon a strong score, but I found myself wishing for more.

Its an extension of that, I would strongly recommend drinking this bourbon neat.  For whatever reason, adding water absolutely killed the flavor profile, mouth feel, and finish.

At about $32 for a bottle of this fine bourbon, I think you're also coming away with a very good deal. Although you can obviously find much cheaper bourbon, I think you'd be hard pressed to find such quality at this price point.


Scotch Dreams Score: 87

*Scotch Dreams Value Adjustment: +2

*The Scotch Dreams Value Adjustment attempts to account for the price/quality balance in some of the world's cheaper or overpriced drams.  Cheap scotch that is good enough to earn a decent rating will typically see a positive adjustment, while overpriced scotch that is mediocre will see a negative adjustment.  Adjustments are on a scale of -5 to +5 and may be added directly to the Scotch Dreams Score - which addresses ONLY the dram's quality - to achieve a price weighted scoring.  Check the Scotch Dreams Scoring System page if you're interested in learning more.