Review #: 255
Description: Four Roses Small Batch Limited Edition 2020
Spirit: Bourbon
Background: The 2020 release of the Four Roses Small Batch Limited Edition. This one is comprised of 12 year OBSV, 12 year OESV, 19 year OBSK, and 16 year OESK. Bottled at 111.4 proof and without chill filtration, I previously enjoyed the 2019 but was disappointed with the 2018, so let’s see which side it falls on.
Distillery – Four Roses
Bottler – Four Roses
Brand – Four Roses
Selection – N/A
ABV – 55.7%
Age – 12 Years
Nose – Apricots, plums, lots of musty oak in a very good way, honeyed oatmeal. Char of the oak is really prominent but is well balanced with just enough of the fruity sweetness. Almost like a carrot note, where there’s lots of earthiness but still sweet, just not sugary sweet. The more it sits the more cherry comes through but remains balanced.
Taste – Dark cherry, honey nut cheerios, tingling clove and ginger, charred oak comes through, caramel, vanilla
Finish – Big hit of spicy cinnamon, clove, rye spice, snickerdoodle cookie, oak embers. Spicy, long and lingering
Score: 8
Would I buy a bottle? Yes, at retail
Thoughts: This one was a little bit older than the last two years and I think that’s where the strong oak really shows itself and that was a big plus to me. Rich and earthy, but just enough sweetness to keep it balanced without any bitterness coming through. An excellent release.