Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch 130th, 2018
Being that I gave up “hunting” for American whiskey years ago, I shouldn't even possess this bottle. I decided last minute to stop by my local Total Wine @ 9:30 on a Tuesday night because I ran out of club soda for highballs. Walked past the front desk, glanced to my left…..and there, not even tucked away in the back corner where allocated bottles are typically found, but right out on the front counter within arms distance, was this bottle of FRLESB 130th. As to not take something that was already paid for, I asked the cashier if I could purchase this. She glanced over and said….“Sure!”. I don’t even remember if I went back for the club soda, but the rest is history. My deepest condolences to whomever this bottle was intended for as I know that this bottle wasn’t unclaimed.
If you know anything about American whiskey, and aren't some Pappy whore who solely purchases award winners and whatever Forbes or GQ tells you, then you know this Bourbon needs zero introduction. IMO this is usually one of, if not the best American whiskey release annually, by any distiller. It’s everything Bourbon should be.
Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch 130th, 2018
ABV: 54.2% // 108.4 proof
Ages: 10 OBSV // 13 OBSF // 14 OESV // 16 OESK
Release: 2018
Distilled: N/A
Bottled: August 2019
Bottle: #1131 of 13,140
Color: Burnt Copper
Non-chill filtered
Nose: Black pepper spiced tangerine marmalade. Very jammy. Bright lemon zest & umami mesquite smoke. Vanilla & caramel is subtle. Signature rich vivid Four Roses dominant rye grains. Joray Fruit Roll Leather (if you were a kid in the 90’s you know these). Hints of powdered sugar dusted over beautiful oak that isn’t overpowering. Hint of mocha & touch of sweet and sour. A more citrus dominated batching.
Palate: Full bodied. What bourbon was meant to be. Charred orange. Charred oak. Bitter English Breakfast tea, over-steeped. Medium oils which don’t drown out the other flavors. Rich, intense oak on the.
Finish: Long. Charred rye spices & cinnamon. Oak, vanilla and caramel in hallmark Bourbon fashion. Sticky, wood resiny. Oils keep traveling through from the palate to finish. Spent coffee grounds and 75%+ dark chocolate.
Bourbon and House Rating: 94.5
Yet again, another Home Run for Four Roses. Arguably one of the more balanced FRLEsB’s in recent years (in terms of recipes/ages used), I think that this 2018 release was not quite as complex as the 2015 but for example was more interesting than the 2014, among others.
A great effort showing a more citrus dominated release. Four Roses continues to be the benchmark for what American whiskey is capable of, IMO. Quality > Instagram likes and bragging rights. Pass on the Pappy next time you have the option for an allocated Fall release and choose Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch.
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