As you know, I am not in Kentucky for the Kentucky Bourbon Festival this week as I would have ordinarily been. This means that there was no real way for me to get a bottle of 2020’s Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch. To console myself, I’ve gone ahead and put the last eight year’s releases up against one another Bracket Style. Tonight’s matchup features 2013’s 125th Anniversary release and the 2017 release.
Fun fact, the last time I wasn’t in Kentucky during September was 2013. I spent the time in Toronto meeting whiskey friends. I got a bottle thanks to another whiskey friend who happened to see it on the shelf at his local store, but am tasting out of the sample bottles that I put away in my Sample Library.
2017 happened to be the first time I worked as “Press” at events during BourbonFest. I got free passes, talked to some folks, made some notes, and wrote about them after I got home. It was also the first year that a reader recognized me on the streets of Bardstown and asked if they could get a photo with me. It was all very weird but very flattering.
So here we go. Remember these were tasted completely blind from identical bottles labeled only with an alphanumeric code.
Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch 2013
Original Review: 2013 Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch Review
Pertinent Quote: “I’ve heard people describe it as the best bourbon they’ve ever had, but that’s probably pushing it a bit. I’ll go ahead and say that, for me, it’s not even the best Four Roses I’ve had. I would rank both the 2012 Limited Small Batch and the 2009 Mariage higher (which were basically equally good in my book). 2013 was a bit too thick and sweet and the flavors a bit more muddied when compared to the 2012. But that’s splitting hairs. I can see why this was chosen to be the American Whiskey of the Year last year, it’s an amazing whiskey. It’s just not the best ever.”
Details/Original Price: A blend of 18-year-old OBSV, 13-year-old OBSK, and 13-year-old OESK. Purchase Price: $99.
Nose: Raspberry preserves, oak, vanilla.
Mouth: Oak, raspberry preserves, Juicy Fruit gum, baking spice
Finish: Medium length. Lingering Wintergreen, raspberry preserves, oak, and cinnamon.
Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch 2017
Original Review: 2017 Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch Review
Pertinent Quote: “I know what you are thinking. "Obviously Eric loves this, he's a Four Roses fanboy." Well, you are half right. I am a fanboy. But this doesn't rate a heart from me (my wife disagrees most vehemently). It does, however, rate a very high "like." It's thick and rich and the finish lasts for days.”
Original Details/Price: 54% ABV. A blend of 20% 15-year-old OESK, 40% 13-year-old OESK, and 12-year-old OESV bourbons. MSRP: $130.
Nose: Juicy Fruit Gum, Orange Creamsicle, caramel, vanilla, baking spice, and a hint of oak.
Mouth: Fruity, creamy, and spicy. Cinnamon, nutmeg, caramel, vanilla, red fruits, and oak.
Finish: Medium to long and warm. Cinnamon, vanilla, oak, and orange Creamsicle.
Thoughts:
This is a hard one. Both of these are fruit-forward. The obvious difference is that one reminds me of rich, cooked raspberries while the other is bright and refreshing in its fruit presentation. I really like both of these and I could see either one winning in a different matchup. But I'm giving 2017 the nod.
Thanks to Four Roses Master Distiller Brent Elliot for inspiring this series of posts.
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