Table Of Contents
The Details
| Rating | 96 |
| Style |
Bourbon American Whiskey Whiskey |
| Produced In |
Kentucky United States |
| ABV | 54.1% |
| Availability | Limited |
| Price | $220.00 |
| Reviewed By | |
| Reviewed | 2024-08-15 |
Four Roses 2024 Limited Edition Small Batch Review
Another year, another Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch. Sometimes, the most predictable things in life are worth looking forward to.
In 2023, Four Roses celebrated its 135th anniversary with a milestone Limited Edition Small Batch release. (It was very good!) This year, the distillery isn’t celebrating a special anniversary, but it’s still digging deep into highly-aged stocks for a unique barrel strength blend. The 2024 Limited Edition (LE) Small Batch contains four components sourced from three of Four Roses’ 10 distinct recipes:
- 12 year-old OBSV
- 15 year-old OESK
- 16 year-old OESF
- 20 year-old OBSV
The youngest component in 2024 — that 12 year OBSV — makes up 31 percent of the blend, meaning a full 69 percent of this year’s batch is 15-plus year old bourbon. Notably, last year’s 135th Anniversary blend also contained OBSV as the oldest component, albeit at 25 years old instead of 20.
In a media virtual call, Four Roses master distiller Brent Elliott said he tested around 21 blends before settling on this year’s final proportions. And it turns out he might have done extra work, as blend number 17 ultimately got the nod. According to Elliot, the 16-year OESF was a special inclusion, adding a surprising array of “dark cherry notes and a rich mouthfeel” to the final blend.
Let’s see how it tastes!
Four Roses 2024 Limited Edition Small Batch: Stats and Availability
Kudos to Four Roses: they’re often transparent about bottle counts. In 2024, the distillery will release just over 16,000 bottles of the LE Small Batch in the U.S. market. Bottles will be available at the Distillery Visitor Center in Lawrenceburg, Ky., as well as the Warehouse & Bottling Facility’s Visitor Center in Cox’s Creek, Ky. Select retailers nationwide will also receive bottle allocations.
The suggested retail price has jumped $20 from last year to $220. That said, it’s common to see these bottles marked up, sitting for as high as $450 on shelves in major metropolitan markets.
Four Roses 2024 Limited Edition Small Batch Review
As with all of VinePair’s whiskey reviews, this was tasted in a Glencairn glass and rested for at least five minutes.
Nose
Cinnamon, dark red cherry, and brown sugar kick things off on the nose. It’s about equal parts spicy and fruity, showcasing some of that hallmark depth Four Roses is able to achieve by blending its most well-aged stocks. This is the sort of bourbon where quality is abundant from first sniff, with a complex array of scents that beg for attention without drowning each other out. Ask 10 people for their early aroma notes, and you’re likely to get a dizzying array of answers. Sometimes, that’s cacophonous; here, it’s simply captivating.
But I suppose we can get more specific. Dark cocoa comes in shortly thereafter, and by a second sniff, the nose has settled firmly into chocolate covered cherry territory. From there, it’s a red fruit bonanza, with raspberries, strawberries, and cranberries entering the mix.
Brent Elliott wasn’t kidding when he mentioned that bright and tangy fruit character; this nose evolves similarly to some of the very best OESF single barrels I’ve had the pleasure of sampling. Yet the 2024 LE also brings more robust (and balanced) spice than many of those older OESF single barrels, which I’m guessing is largely due to the 12 year-old OBSV with its hefty chocolate and baking notes.
Once again, Elliott and his team have taken the best characteristics of Four Roses’ oldest whiskeys and balanced them with complementary flavors from a younger recipe. As with most previous years, we’re off to a fantastic start.
Taste
Tannic and sweet honey quickly coat the palate, from the tip of the tongue all the way back. It’s age before fruit, though only for a moment. Cherry, raspberry, and pear build steadily, along with some lightly roasted coffee bean and cocoa, though lighter here than on the nose. Baking spice folds in just before the midpalate, which pairs well with those red fruits and melds into hot berry compote.
To my (slight) surprise given this blend’s components, floral elements really shine by the third and fourth sips — a bit of rosewater here, a pop of lavender there. There are points at which floral notes are nearly overcome by wood-forward spice, but the tannins peel back just enough for those additional flavors to shine. Adding some water brings out even more floral character, though it’s honestly difficult for me to recommend futzing around with much dilution on this one.
Speaking of which: One remarkable facet of most Four Roses Limited Editions is how they often feel so perfectly proofed, even at batch barrel strength. This year’s is no exception, and 108.2 feels like nearly the perfect strength to carry the heft of age while giving space for delicate flavors. Whatever Elliott’s strategy, it’s usually a fun bit of whiskey alchemy.
Finish
Four Roses often prides itself on “mellow” finishes, but this one is remarkably tangy, the red fruit never quite letting go of the pour. It’s not the longest finish I can remember on a Four Roses Limited Edition — 2019 may be hard to top in my book — but it does the job well, a mid-length and satisfying end to one of the year’s best new releases (so far).
Four Roses 2024 Limited Edition Small Batch Rating
96/100
Recap
Four Roses continues a near-legendary streak when it comes to its barrel strength Limited Edition Small Batch. This year’s blend stands apart for its tangy, fruity character while hitting at least the same quality standards to which we’ve become accustomed. Year in and year out, it’s shockingly easy to take these bottles for granted, as they’re basically always good. But make no mistake: While Four Roses keeps clearing its own high bar, in the grand scheme of spirits, this is truly outstanding stuff.
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