Four Roses Single Barrel Collection, 2026

I’d like to thank Four Roses and their PR team for providing this review sample with no strings attached

IMAGE: Four sample bottles of Four Roses Single Barrel bourbon recipes OBSK, OESQ, OBSV, and OESF lined up on a deck railing outdoors on a sunny morning.

In 1995, Four Roses launched Four Roses Single Barrel, OBSV, to much rejoicing from the masses (actually, as I was a freshman in college at the time, I have no idea if there was much rejoicing or just a collective shrug from the masses, but stick with me here). After 20 years of whining and complaining from people like me, they finally started to let us taste the other nine bourbons that they make in single barrel form by releasing the first installment of the Four Roses Single Barrel Collection. Now, these bourbons had been available as Private Barrel Picks for a long time, but those were at a higher proof and a higher price.

But until last year, they had never sold them in a package that was accessible to the average Joe or Jane—one unwilling to spend high prices and go on unicorn hunts to the stores that carried the ones they were looking for. Enter the Four Roses Single Barrel Collection. An annually rotating collection of three red-labeled recipes that are proofed and priced the same as the standard brown-labeled Four Roses Single Barrel. I was extremely excited to see last year’s release and even more excited to see it coming back again this year.

And if this sounds like I am a biased and enthusiastic fanboy for this product, I am. I’ve been a Four Roses fanboy since I was first getting into whiskey oh so many years ago. In fact, I can easily say that in 2025, I spent more money and bought more bottles of the 2025 collection than I did on all other bourbons combined. I must have purchased at least six or seven of each from my local corner liquor store. Maybe more. As long as it was on the shelf, it was my go-to pour. And I liked them all, so I’m referring to them interchangeably in this. And yes, I’m even more excited for this year.

You see, I’ve always been a huge fan of the Q yeast releases. I was chatting with Master Distiller Brent Elliott one time and mentioned that fact. He noted that I am one of the few who tell him that. I also love the F and the other yeasts too, but something about that floral Q just hits right with me. The herbal F is usually a close second, and the fruit and spice of the rest are right up there too. I just love Four Roses all around.

I was happy to see an F release last year, but I’m even more excited that this year’s release features both an F and a Q release. The 2026 releases are as follows: OESQ, which features the Q yeast and a mash bill of 75% corn, 20% rye, and 5% malted barley; OESF, which features the F yeast and the same mash bill; and OBSK, which features the spicy K yeast and the higher-rye mash bill of 60% corn, 35% rye, and 5% malted barley. They also sent a “control” sample of the standard OBSV Single Barrel. It features the fruity V yeast and the same high-rye mash bill as the OBSK. These are all bottled at 100 proof and were aged between seven and nine years. The suggested retail price is $49.99 per 750 mL bottle.

So let’s dig in..

Four Roses Single Barrel Collection, 2026

Purchase Info: These samples were sent to me at no charge for review purposes. The suggested retail price for each bottle is $49.99.

Price per Drink (50 mL): $3.33

Details: Each recipe is aged 7 to 9 years and bottled at 50% ABV.

OBSK:

Nose: Juicy fruit gum, cinnamon candies, stone fruits, and mint.

Mouth: Cinnamon, oak, stone fruits, and mint.

Finish: Medium in warmth and length. Lingering notes of fruit, mint, cinnamon, and toffee.

OESF:

Nose: Fresh garden herbs, strong caramel, vanilla, and a hint of cinnamon.

Mouth: Herbal, with notes of caramel, oak, vanilla, and cinnamon supporting it.

Finish: Warm and on the longer side of medium length. Very herbal, with notes of cinnamon, black pepper, and oak.

OESQ:

Nose: Floral vanilla, brown sugar, and a hint of baking spices. Basically, this smells like a delicious fresh-baked sugar cookie.

Mouth: Cinnamon spice, floral vanilla, mint, and oak.

Finish: Medium in length and warmth. Notes of sugar cookie (floral vanilla, a hint of cinnamon, and brown sugar) and wintergreen.

IMAGE: A hand-drawn smiley face that denotes I like the product.

Thoughts: I'm going to guess that the folks at Four Roses were searching for the barrels that fulfilled the stereotype for each of these recipes, because what is the point of showing the differences off if the barrel is just going to take over and obscure them. In this case, OESQ sample was very floral and the Q yeast is the floral one. Same with the herbal F and the sample of OESF: very herbal. Same with K and the spiciness. I love that. It's extremely fun to taste these side-by-side, and I hope each of you has that opportunity. If not, if I had to rank them, I'd say:

  1. OESQ

  2. OESF

  3. OBSK

  4. OBSV (the standard single barrel release)

My wife on the other hand had her ranking as:

  1. OBSK

  2. OESQ

  3. OBSV (the standard single barrel release)

  4. OESF

I'm usually a big fan of F and Q, whereas she is more of a K, O, and V girl, just so you know our biases. But all are very good, and I'm guessing that for a second year in a row I'll be spending more on these releases than all other bourbon combined. They are both delicious and relatively affordable when compared to the rest of today’s bourbon market. I really like these and cannot wait for them to hit shelves.

If you want to support our work at BourbonGuy.com, please consider a one-time donation at ko-fi.com/bourbonguy or paypal.me/BourbonGuy. Or you could buy some merch that I’ve designed and/or built (tasting journals, t-shirts, stickers, pins, signs, posters, and more) at BourbonGuyGifts.com. Use code BOURBONGUYREADER at checkout for 5% off any order of $50 or more.

Redemption Bourbon (2026 Revamp)

I’d like to thank the folks at Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits and their PR partners for providing this sample with no strings attached.

IMAGE: Redemption Bourbon bottle with red label and wood-topped cork sitting on a deck railing outdoors, green trees blurred in the background, BourbonGuy watermark in lower left.

Do you remember a couple of weeks ago when we were doing the BourbonGuy Brackets? I had one matchup where I said both of the competitors were “products in transition.” Well, shortly after I published the results of the bracket competition, I got an email from the producers of one of those products, completely coincidentally. They were announcing the new bottle and proof of Redemption Bourbon—an announcement that I had apparently scooped by looking at their website.

I immediately asked for a sample to be sent to me. I was very interested to give the proof bump a thorough look. When it arrived, I noticed that it also had a higher stated age than previously, having gone from a 2-year-old at 88 proof to a 3-year-old at 92 proof. All good things, especially since it is still distilled in Indiana (assuming MGP) and there is some fantastic bourbon coming out of there even at a younger age.

I am not a reporter. I don’t break news, hell I don’t even really report it. But it tickles me that they reached out days after I published my accidental “scoop.” I like fun coincidences—they make life interesting. Anyway, here’s what the brand has to say about their revamp:

At the heart of the relaunch is Redemption’s new bottle design. Dramatic and symbolic, the refreshed packaging features an eagle in mid-flight, formed from rye with its wings spread wide. More than a design evolution, the eagle represents courage and ambition—leaving the safety of the ground for the unknown horizon. It embodies Redemption’s refreshed brand philosophy: Choose Redemption. Rise Above. A symbol of resilience and forward momentum, the new bottle captures the spirit of Redemption’s next act: fearless, confident, and rooted in the attitude and soul that defines its rye-built whiskeys.

Prompted by a trademark dispute initiated by a competitor a few years ago, Redemption took the opportunity to reimagine its brand identity, beginning with its packaging. Rather than looking backward, the brand chose to move forward, transforming a challenge into a catalyst for reinvention. The new bottle stands as a visible symbol of that transformation.

While the new packaging makes an immediate visual statement, the evolution extends beyond aesthetics. Redemption’s refreshed portfolio includes its signature Rye, High Rye Bourbon, and Straight Bourbon expressions, with the bourbon now bottled at 92 proof to deliver a bolder, more balanced profile.

Ok so now that we know why and how the bourbon has changed, let’s see how it tastes.

Redemption Bourbon

Purchase Info: This bottle was provided by the producer at no charge for review purposes. The suggested retail price is $29.99 for a 750 mL bottle.

Price per Drink (50 mL): $2.00

Details: Distilled in Indiana. 46% ABV. 3 years old. Mash bill: 75% corn, 21% rye, 4% malted barley. Batch #1.

Nose: Nutmeg, vanilla, mint, a touch of red fruit, and a little oak.

Mouth: Almond, vanilla, mint, and just a touch of oak and baking spice.

Finish: Medium in both warmth and length. Lingering notes of cinnamon, mint, and fruit.

IMAGE: A hand-drawn Smiley face that denotes I like the product.

Thoughts: This, while young, is a perfectly fine bourbon. It’s got a nice spice, along with some mint and fruit notes that I’m enjoying. I’d drink this one neat or in a cocktail, personally. It doesn’t really handle dilution well in my experience, but if you’re making a cocktail that’s built in the glass with minimal dilution—like an Old Fashioned—it performs well. For what it is, I like it.

If you want to support our work at BourbonGuy.com, please consider a one-time donation at ko-fi.com/bourbonguy or paypal.me/BourbonGuy. Or you could buy some merch that I’ve designed and/or built (tasting journals, t-shirts, stickers, pins, signs, posters, and more) at BourbonGuyGifts.com. Use code BOURBONGUYREADER at checkout for 5% off any order of $50 or more.

Frey Ranch Farm Strength Uncut Rye

I’d like to thank the folks at Frey Ranch Distillery and their PR team for providing this bottle with no strings attached.

IMAGE: Frey Ranch Cask Strength Straight Rye Whiskey (aged 6 years) bottle on a wooden deck with backyard trees in the background, showing green and black label details and BourbonGuy watermark in the corner

Now, I don’t know about you, but I seldom think of farming and Nevada in the same sentence. Mostly because I’ve really only been to the areas that tourists go to. I’ve been to Vegas, visited nature in the area, and driven through Northern Nevada on I-80 a couple of times. And honestly, I never thought about grain farming as I drove through.

But apparently I should have. Just over the southern horizon (poetically speaking) from I-80 lives a small town named Fallon. And when you look for Fallon on a satellite view, you notice one thing quite clearly: there is a lot of green on that image. More than my brief visits to the state would have ever led me to believe. I must not be the only one with those thoughts, as the press release spends a few words explaining just that:

Using his own slow-grown grains that take Northern Nevada’s climate, topography, and terroir into account provides Colby with almost unlimited freedom to experiment with different grain varieties and blends. Valuing a common-sense approach to sustainable farming, Colby, along with Master Distiller Russell Wedlake, built a distillery born from a desire to create a distinctive, long-lasting product from the quality grains that the Frey family has been growing and perfecting for generations. The new Frey Ranch Farm Strength Uncut Rye is another prime example of Frey Ranch’s commitment to centering its whiskey enterprise around their grains and farming background first and foremost. 

The Frey family values a common-sense approach to sustainable farming, with Colby’s inspiration to build a distillery born from a desire to create a distinctive, long-lasting product from the quality grains his family has been growing and perfecting for generations. The family has long abided by the motto, “Be good to the land and the land will be good to you,” which is embossed on the bottom of each bottle of Frey Ranch Whiskey.

Now I don’t know about you, but I love having my perspective on the world widened. It’s why I travel so much and end up taking a lot of road trips when I do. I love seeing for myself just what this country has to offer.

But we are here to talk about whiskey. So let’s see what this whiskey has to offer. Right off the bat, it isn’t offering you any water. This is a cask strength whiskey, uncut with water—which I actually like. Why bother shipping water across the country when I have plenty here at home? Plus, I get to find my preferred dilution point. Frey Ranch Uncut Rye is six years old, bottled at 124.52 proof, and has a mash bill of 100% Canadian winter rye, grown by the Frey family. So now onto the most important part—how does it taste?

Frey Ranch Farm Strength Uncut Rye

Purchase Info: This bottle was provided for review purposes at no charge. The suggested retail price is $79.99 and it is available for the time being at the Frey Ranch Distillery website.

Price per Drink (50 mL): $5.33

Details: 6 years old. 62.26% ABV. 100% rye mash bill.

Nose: Caramel, honey, mint, black pepper, oak.

Mouth: Very hot and thick in the mouth. Notes of cinnamon, honey, cola, and oak.

Finish: Warm and long. Notes of cinnamon, mint, cocoa, black pepper, caramel, and oak linger.

IMAGE: A hand-drawn Smiley face which denotes I like the product.

Thoughts: Rich, sweet, and very spicy when neat. This is a release that is begging for water—which I am totally fine with. As I said earlier, it doesn't make much sense to ship water across the country when there is plenty here at the house. Water tames some of the heat and brings out cedar notes, as well as a hint of citrus. This also makes a killer Sazerac, the cocktail I test all ryes with. Overall, this is very good. I really like it.

If you want to support our work at BourbonGuy.com, please consider a one-time donation at ko-fi.com/bourbonguy or paypal.me/BourbonGuy. Or you could buy some merch that I’ve designed and/or built (tasting journals, t-shirts, stickers, pins, signs, posters, and more) at BourbonGuyGifts.com. Use code BOURBONGUYREADER at checkout for 5% off any order of $50 or more.

Remus Master Distiller Experimental Series No. 2: Straight Wheat Whiskey

I’d like to thank the folks at Ross& Squibb and their PR teams for sending this bottle with no strings attached.

IMAGE: Close-up of Remus Master Distiller Experimental Series No. 2 Straight Wheat Whiskey bottle showing label details (distilled in 2017, 113 proof) on a wooden deck, with rich amber-red whiskey color and BourbonGuy watermark visible

Spring has sprung here in Minnesota, and you know what that means. Yep, it was 80 degrees last weekend, and it’s looking like there’s a chance of snow this coming weekend. In spring, Minnesota gets a taste of all the seasons at once: summer, winter, mud, road work—even football if you follow the NFL Draft or the spring game for the local college. You don’t get to experience all of them in their full force (for example, even at 80 degrees, I didn’t turn on my AC for more than a test run, and the Draft/Spring Games are poor substitutes for real games), but you do get the opportunity to remember what you can look forward to and what you are leaving behind.

It seems that, much like living through a Minnesota spring, MGP—producer of tonight’s whiskey—is also currently trying to decide what to leave behind and what is coming in the future, as they announced the “temporary idling” of the stills in their Lux Row and Limestone Branch facilities, affecting 33 employees. Not something you ever want to read if you are a fan of American whiskey. They will, however, still be bottling and running the visitor centers at each location.

However, we aren’t here to do economic reporting. We are here to discuss the products that are actually in front of us. And tonight, that is MGP/Ross & Squibb’s first wheat whiskey. It was created using their 95% Wheat Whiskey mashbill. The liquid was finished in a combination of Tawny Port, White Port, Oloroso Sherry, and Ruby Port casks before being bottled at 56.5% ABV, or 113 proof, as the second release in the company’s Master Distiller Experimental Series. Here is what they have to say about the series:

Building on the acclaim of Experimental Series No. 1, including its gold medal win at the 2025 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, the second installment continues the annual limited-edition program. Originally designed as an outlet for creative exploration, the series gives Master Distiller Ian Stirsman a blank canvas to push beyond traditional boundaries by exploring new heirloom grains and unique barrel finishes. The result each year is a one-of-a-kind expression defined by unconventional flavor profiles, depth, and innovation that is made for adventurous whiskey connoisseurs and collectors.

The whiskey is available in limited quantities nationwide for $69.99 for a 700 mL bottle.

Remus Master Distiller Experimental Series No. 2: Straight Wheat Whiskey

Purchase Info: This bottle was provided at no charge for review purposes. The suggested retail price is $69.99 for a 700 mL bottle.

Price per Drink (50 mL): $5.00

Details: Distilled in 2017. 56.5% ABV. Wheat whiskey finished in a combination of Tawny Port, White Port, Oloroso Sherry, and Ruby Port casks.

Nose: Wintergreen, stone fruit, caramel, vanilla, and cinnamon.

Mouth: Spicy, hot, and sweet. Cinnamon, caramel, vanilla, red fruit, honey, and oak.

Finish: Hot and long. Notes of cinnamon, mint, honey, oak, and red fruit.

IMAGE: A hand-drawn smiley face denotes that I like the product.

Thoughts: Hot, sweet, with a great mouthfeel. That sums it up neatly. It is really delicious, especially neat. Unlike most whiskeys of this proof level, you want to be judicious with adding water. It really doesn’t take it very well, bringing out more grain notes and suppressing many of the rich notes. Even so, I really like this one. It is much more complex and satisfying than other straight wheat whiskeys I’ve had, probably due to the proof and the barrel finishing. If you see it for around the suggested retail, it’s a decent splurge, should you be able to swing it.

If you want to support our work at BourbonGuy.com, please consider a one-time donation at ko-fi.com/bourbonguy or paypal.me/BourbonGuy. Or you could buy some merch that I’ve designed and/or built (tasting journals, t-shirts, stickers, pins, signs, posters, and more) at BourbonGuyGifts.com. Use code BOURBONGUYREADER at checkout for 5% off any order of $50 or more.

Revisited: Woodinville Straight Bourbon

I’d like to thank Woodinville Whiskey for sending this review sample with no strings attached.

IMAGE: Woodinville Straight Bourbon Whiskey bottle (aged 6 years) on a sunlit wooden deck with backyard in the background; large “REVISITED” text overlays the bottom with a BourbonGuy watermark in the corner

It has been thirteen hundred, thirty-nine days since I last look a look at Woodinville Whiskey. It was the first time that I’d had one of their whiskeys, and it certainly wasn’t the last. Since that time, we’ve looked at a number of their products and liked most of them quite a bit. However, I hadn’t picked up the original bourbon again for a while. So I was very excited when they sent me this bottle in order to promote their recent bottle redesign and new 6-year age statement. God, I love age statements showing up. And it really is a lovely bottle. And since that new bottle was the entire reason I got to take another look at it, I should probably let them tell you a little about it.

Woodinville's updated bottle pays homage to the traditional shape that has become synonymous with Woodinville but has been refined to reflect the ultra-premium liquid they produce. The bottle features two different textures of glass, the clear and refined upper part representing the purity and terroir of Woodinville where the whiskey is distilled, and the rugged lower half representing the dramatic climates of Quincy where the whiskey is matured. All four flagship whiskeys feature the fresh look and will also feature an updated 6 year age statement on the bottle. The whiskeys are: Woodinville Straight Bourbon Aged 6 Years (90 proof $39.99 MSRP), Woodinville Straight 100% Rye Aged 6 Years (90 proof $39.99 MSRP) Woodinville Port Finish Bourbon (90 proof $44.99 MSRP), and Woodinville Applewood Finish Bourbon (90 proof $44.99 MSRP).

So now that I’ve let them have their say, let’s see what I had to say about this bourbon the last time. I gave it a “Like” rating and said: “This is pretty darn tasty. If you like hot honey, this should be one to pick up. I look forward to trying a few more from their product line.” Now let’s see how a current bottle tastes, shall we?

Woodinville Straight Bourbon, Aged 6 Years

Purchase Info: This bottle was sent to me at no charge for review purposes. The suggested retail price is $39.99 for a 750 mL bottle.

Price per Drink (50 mL): $2.67

Details: 6 years old. 45% ABV.

Nose: Hay, cherry, vanilla, oak.

Mouth: Cinnamon, honey, vanilla, oak, and almond.

Finish: Medium in length and warmth. Notes of cinnamon, honey, and almond.

IMAGE: A hand-drawn smiley face that denotes I like this product.

Thoughts: This is still really tasty. It has a lovely, viscous mouthfeel, which just adds to the honey notes. The almond/cherry notes are nice throughout. There is good warmth. And as mentioned above, it now comes in a bottle that is pretty enough that I might throw some solar lights in it and put it out on the deck for decoration. This remains a Like. It’s quite tasty.

If you want to support our work at BourbonGuy.com, please consider a one-time donation at ko-fi.com/bourbonguy or paypal.me/BourbonGuy. Or you could buy some merch that I’ve designed and/or built (tasting journals, t-shirts, stickers, pins, signs, posters, and more) at BourbonGuyGifts.com. Use code BOURBONGUYREADER at checkout for 5% off any order of $50 or more.