Monday, April 10, 2017
Better Late Than Never: Four Roses 2016 Limited Edition Small Batch
It's harder and harder to get these bottles, so thanks to My Annoying Opinions for sending me a sample of the 2016 edition of the Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch was released last fall and sold out pretty much immediately.
The 2016 Small Batch Limited edition was a blend of 12 year old OESO, 12 year old OBSV and 16 year old OESK
Four Roses Small Batch Limited Edition 2016, 55.6% abv ($1 Bajillion)
The nose is nice with bourbon caramel notes. The palate comes on sweet, then picks up woody notes and develops a chewy mouthfeel. It feels hot for its strength. The finish is dry with peppery notes and then a very slight mint. Water makes it soapy so I'd stay away from the faucet.
This is a very nice bourbon, in the traditional "old bourbon" style with a lot of oak showing through. Taking it side by side with the 2015, they are pretty similar. The 2015 may have had more complex flavors but the 2016 is more balanced between the oak and sweeetness. Still, none of them stand up to the amazing bottlings of 2012 and 2013. Those are the bottlings that made the Small Batch Limited Edition a cult must-have bourbon, but the more years pass, the more they seem like an aberration. The more recent releases have certainly been very good, but not amazing.
Also see MAO's annoying opinion on this bourbon.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
I almost feel like the most recent LE stuff from Four Roses, while great when judged on its own, just can't live up to the expectations as set by the Small Batch and Single Barrel. I go in to it with the idea that somehow it's going to be "more better" and leave with the feeling it could have been.
I am sipping my 2014 as I type this, and I think I enjoyed the good old Knob Creek I had before this more... 2013 was amazing, then it all went downhill.
Post a Comment