The Details
Tasting Notes
Introduction:
It originally took me awhile to get into Four Roses. I just always have seen it on the shelves, no hurry to ever buy it, even though I’ve always heard great things. Until one day I was speaking with a liquor store employee about Blanton’s, and he recommended this one (not as a replacement per se, but a decent substitute as this is more available). I was excited to start my blog with this one as lately this has been one of my favorite go-to whiskeys (for the price and availability).
Color:
Burnt Umber
Nose:
Sweet caramel covered burnt almonds, dipped in port then slightly sprinkled of peppered/wheated rye and just a drop of vanilla. Ends with a tiny tiny bit of licorice.
Palate:
At 100 proof, it initially comes across just a bit hot, in a good way, and it lasts just awhile. The spiciness gets you in the back of the tongue and makes its way down into your throat, which continually lingers. Smaller sips the better with this one. The obvious vanilla and sweet oak come out in good complexity. It’s why I’ve always thought of Four Roses Single Barrel as the quintessential bourbon, especially for the price. Sweet at the beginning, quick to transition to a toffee flavor, then gets to a light peppered cream soda at the end. The second breath in reminds me port-soaked oak wood, and the flavors luckily last longer than most whiskeys.
Conclusion:
As mentioned, Four Roses SB is one of my go to sipping and cocktail whiskeys. It’s complex enough that it continually excites me and is never boring, and strong and flavorful enough for any boozy cocktail. At a price point of ~$50, this will always be on my shelf. It just seems better than a 6, but not quite good enough for a 8 to me. Maybe a few more years in the barrel and a bit more smoothness would bump this one up.