Whisky Advocate Blog

Four Roses 2011 Limited Edition Single Barrel, 12 year old, 50.9%, $90

Very floral and fragrant. Gently sweet, too: apple tart laced with cinnamon, pancakes drizzled with maple syrup.  Well-defined oak and crisp, dry spice (cinnamon, anise, cocoa, nutmeg) balance the sweetness. An interesting whiskey: big in some ways, yet elegant in others.

Advanced Malt Advocate magazine rating: 90

Four Roses, Limited Edition Small Batch, 55.05%, $75
The replacement to Four Roses “Mariage” limited editions, which was a marriage of two different whiskey forumulas. This new whiskey contains three of Four Roses’ ten different recipes. It tastes older and more mature than the standard Small Batch bottling—there’s a lot more oak dryness and spice, especially on the finish. Along with the oak, there’s plenty of fruit too (citrus, pineapple, apricot, papaya), along with caramel-coated nuts, a kiss of honeyed vanilla, and complex dried spice (cocoa, nutmeg, cinnamon) kicking in on the finish. (Available September, 2010.)

Advanced Malt Advocate magazine rating: 89

This whiskey, due out next month, is nice, but I think I like last year’s release a little more. (I rated that 89.)

Regarding the two recipes I mention below, the first recipe combines a 19 year old bourbon and a 10 year old bourbon (recipe code “OBSK”). The second recipe is a 10 year old bourbon (code “OESO”).

OB indicates their 35% rye formula. OE is their 20% rye formulate. Malted barley in both is only 5%.

Note that the ABV is a range, not exact. That’s because I got my sample so early, they haven’t yet identified exactly what the strength is.

Four Roses Mariage Collection, 2009 Release, (57-59%), $80
A combination of 10 and 19 year old bourbons with two different recipes. Very spicy, but no excessive oak (given the 19 year old component). But still, there’s definitely more oak than last year’s release, and maybe more than I would like for balance. Along with the cinnamon, cool mint, cocoa powder and nutmeg, there are caramelized sugars and bright citrus notes. This is a tight whiskey too—not heavy and lethargic, like some 10-plus year old bourbons can be. The flavors are crisp and vibrant, all the way to its polished oak, tobacco-tinged finish.

Advanced Malt Advocate magazine rating: 87

One final note. I’ll be reviewing the new Rittenhouse Rye 25 year old single barrel live later this afternoon at 4pm EST on Twitter. I just got the review sample this morning. It will be the first public review of this whiskey. If you’re not doing anything, join in on the fun (@JohnHansell). I’ll be comparing it to the two previous releases, the 21 and 23 year old.  If you can’t join me today, I’m hoping to post a review up here over the weekend on WDJK.

I was sent a pre-release sample of the 2009 edition of Four Roses Single Barrel. It will be released officially in June. Keep in mind that these are single barrels and will vary slightly from one barrel to the next. Having said this, if the other barrels taste as good as this one, you’re in for a treat!

Four Roses Single Barrel (2009 Limited Edition), 58%, $80
Deeper and darker than some Four Roses, but with plenty of bright, lush sweetness. Notes of toffee, honey-drenched nuts, and ripe summer fruit. Nicely spiced, with cinnamon, nutmeg and dusting of mocha. I just love the honey influence. A well-balanced whiskey, with all the flavors taking turns to shine. Great integration of flavors too! One of my favorite Four Roses single barrel bourbons, which will grown on you with every sip.

Advanced Malt Advocate magazine rating: 90