Review #: 214
Description: Four Roses Private Select OESK: Flaks Liquors
Spirit: Bourbon
Background: Today we have a Four Roses Private Select Single Barrel selected by Flaks Liquors in Houston Texas. This is the OESK recipe meaning it is the higher corn mashbill, and the yeast strain associated with slight spice. So let’s see if it falls in line.
Distillery – Four Roses
Bottler – Four Roses
Brand – Four Roses
Selection – Flaks Liquors
ABV – 59.9%
Age – 9 Years 11 Months
Nose – Leathery, cocoa, stewed apples, elote, yellow cake
Taste – Cinnamon syrup, fruit jelly, caramelized banana, toasted oak
Finish – Big hit of heat, but the spice is still light: cinnamon, clove, raspberry, strong but balanced oak, strong earthy allspice
Score: 6
Would I buy a bottle? Yes (but I am a sucker for 4RPS)
Thoughts: I think Four Roses is right with saying that the K yeast brings “slight spice” as the finish showed nuance without being unbalanced. However, the heat still came through and really came in strong on the finish. The raspberry sweetness helped balance it but even near 60% it felt hot. I often feel like the Private Selects are worth the premium so at around $70, it would be hard for me to pass up a bottle if I saw it on the shelf.