🥃Review #55: Four Roses Small Batch Bourbon

Four Roses Small Batch Bourbon Whiskey on a wooden wheel

Joining a stalwart lineup of commendable Single Barrels, a wallet friendly Yellow Label, stunning limited editions, and the polarizing Small Batch Select, Four Roses Small Batch has been the brand's go-to everyday sipping whiskey since its introduction in 2006. From a product design standpoint, it is intended to be easy drinking with broad mass market appeal. It has earned numerous Gold Metals across an assortment of spirits competitions and has one of the most pleasing bottle shapes I have ever seen. Though "Small Batch" is not a regulated term, I have anecdotally seen it mentioned that Four Roses aims for around 250 barrels per batch.

🛒Sourced: $29.99 - 750ml - Costco Perimeter, GA - Most big box stores will have this pegged at $30 and I've never seen it above $35.

🧪Proof: 90 proof, 45% ABV

🎨Color: R3 - a sunny runny egg yolk orange-brown

🥔Mash Bill: Four Roses Small batch is a blend of 4 of Four Roses' 10 mash bills in undisclosed ratios:

OBSK (#2) - Rye and Baking Spices - 60% Corn, 35% Rye, 5% Barley
OBSO (#3) - Rich Fruit - 60% Corn, 35% Rye, 5% Barley
OESK (#7) - Baking Spice - 75% Corn, 20% Rye, 5% Barley
OESO (#8) - Fruit and Vanilla - 75% Corn, 20% Rye, 5% Barley

As a reminder, the format for Four Roses recipes is (O - Four Roses, Mash bill, S - Straight Whiskey, Yeast Strain). Five yeast strains across two mash bills yield 10 total combinations.

In Four Roses Small Batch, you get both K yeast mash bills (spice) and both O yeast mash bills (Fruit), all qualifying as being rather "high rye". You'll see lots of marketing around the limestone filtered waters sourced from the Salt River, though most Kentucky distilleries have access to similar sources.

According to Four Roses, Small Batch is a fusion of whiskies aged at least 6-7 years though as with most blends I'm sure they dump in some older barrels from time to time. Barrel entry proof is 120. Four Roses uses a 45 second burn to char their barrels which would be right between a #3 and #4 standard char.

Four Roses Small Batch on a desk in front of some plants and a wooden wheel

👃Nose: Easy on the nose with plenty of banana and baking spices, nutmeg and clove most distinctly. You can really get up in there and enjoy it.

😜Palate: Fairly light of body though appropriate to the dilution from cask, light but not thin. Some vanilla custard with a little bit of biting spice from the rye character. I get a good dose of green apple aft palate and then plum during the transition to the finish. Depending on the day, I can pick out some citrus, tangerine and lemon peel, though conditions have to be perfect.

💦Finish: Shortish where the plum transitions to a flash of medicinal cherry and white pepper. A pleasant low lingering warmth is there, more a friendly handshake than a hug.

🏆 Overall: 6/10 - Very Good - Solid - Four Roses Small batch is a solid sipper at an approachable price. There are other options that outshine for overall experience in my opinion, but this bottle delivers an astonishing amount of depth and complexity. The orchard fruit flavors are a highlight for me, joining more dependable vanilla oak and cherry notes. If you cant find Buffalo Trace, this bottle is a solid replacement. I wish they just bottled this around 105 proof instead of Small Batch Select which has two additional recipes dumped in, too many conflicting flavors to my taste. New drinkers may like this on ice which brings out additional sweetness. Four Roses Small Batch also does great in an Old Fashioned; I'm historically a big fan of Rye Old Fashioneds, but high-rye bourbon is a great alternative for those with a sweet tooth.

💵Would buy again? Yes, this is my third bottle. It's a much better value in my opinion than Small Batch Select and more approachable than Four Roses' wonderful single barrels (which I also quite enjoy).

⚖️Rating Scale:

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