Review #753; Bourbon #162: Four Roses Small Batch Limited Edition 2021

This is the annual limited release blend from Kentucky distillery Four Roses. A blend of recipes this years release features:

• 16 year OBSV

• 14 year OBSQ

• 12 year OESK

• 16 year OESV

This was bottled at barrel strength with no additives.

ABV: 57.1%

Nose: Cherry, Green Apple, Tobacco Leaf, Vanilla Cream, Slight Pear, Dark Chocolate, Leather, Tannins.

Palate: Thick oily mouthfeel, Cherry, Tannins, Black Pepper, Dark Chocolate, Green Apple, Leather.

Finish: Medium length finish, Leather, Black pepper, Dark Chocolate, Cherry, Tannins, Green Apple.

Rating: 8/10

Another excellent LE from Four Roses, they routinely put out great LE’s that perform well for me. This is a great blend of clearly older bourbon that brings those heavy savory notes like the leather and punch of pepper spice, while the “younger” components bring some nice fruitiness to it. Four Roses has some of the fruitiest bourbon I have had and it complements the 16 year old components so well. If there was one LE from any distillery I would try for each year it would be this one.

1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out.

2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume by choice.

3 | Bad | Multiple flaws.

4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but better exists.

5 | Good | Good, just fine.

6 | Very Good | A cut above.

7 | Great | Well above average

8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional.

9 | Incredible | An all time favorite

10 | Perfect | Perfect