Four Roses Small Batch Bourbon

Four Roses Small Batch Bourbon and Four Roses Small Batch Select are two expressions from this historic Kentucky bourbon distillery.

Four Roses Small Batch Select Kentucky Bourbon

Four Roses History

Four Roses has been around since about the 1860s, though there are two versions of how the Kentucky bourbon got its name. One says that it was founded by an American businessman, Rufus Mathewson Rose, who named the bourbon after himself, his brother, and his two sons: Four Roses.

However, the company’s official history says that the brand was established by someone called Paul Jones, who simply came up with the name Four Roses which he trademarked in 1888.

The Four Roses Kentucky bourbon distillery building — The Four Roses Kentucky Bourbon Distillery

The Four Roses Distillery

The Four Roses distillery building is certainly unique among distilleries. It was built in 1910 in the Spanish Mission style, making it look more like a traditional tequila distillery than a Kentucky bourbon distillery. This has caused it to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Four Roses Bourbon Distiller Brent Elliott

The Four Roses Process

Like its distillery building, the Four Roses way of making bourbon is also unique. This is how they explain it on their website:

Four Roses is the only Bourbon Distillery that combines 5 proprietary yeast strains with two separate mashbills to handcraft 10 distinct Bourbon recipes, each with its own unique character, spiciness, and rich fruity flavors. Up to all 10 recipes are mingled by hand to create Four Roses Bourbon. Six are mingled for Four Roses Small Batch Select Bourbon. Four are mingled for Four Roses Small Batch Bourbon. One recipe is hand selected for Four Roses Single Barrel Bourbon.

Four Roses Small Batch Select Bourbon

In 2019 the company underwent an expansion project and introduced its first new permanent expression for several years: Small Batch Select Bourbon. This added to its existing line, which already included a Small Batch Bourbon.

Small Batch Bourbon Awards

Four Roses Small Batch Bourbon has won a number of awards since it was launched, for instance in 2019 alone it won the following:

Gold Medal – Denver International Spirits Competition
Gold Medal – SUNSET International Spirits Competition
Very Good, Strong Recommendation, 87 Points – Cocktail Recommendation: Old Fashioned Ultimate Spirits Competition
Gold – Cigar & Spirits World Spirits Competition

Though it only came out in 2019, Small Batch Select has already started picking up awards, including the following in 2020:

Extraordinary, Ultimate Recommendation, 96 Points – Ultimate Spirits Competition
Finalist, Top 100 Spirits – Ultimate Spirits Competition
Silver – World Whiskies Awards
Gold Medal – Denver International Spirits Competition

Tasting Four Roses Small Batch Bourbon

This is a blend of four bourbons that have been aged for a minimum of 6-7 years and then brought together and bottled at 45% ABV (90 proof) in a small batch of about 250 barrels. It’s a lovely rich honey color.

On the nose, the typical bourbon sweetness is what immediately strikes you, with lots of caramel and vanilla creaminess. It’s not overly sweet, though, as there are contrasting notes of spiciness and fruity citrus freshness.

This blend continues on the palate although the sweetness is now more of a buttery caramel than vanilla. There’s also a pleasing mix of red berries and cherries, and the whole is a very smooth blend and a good sipping bourbon. It’s good value at a price of around $40.

Tasting Four Roses Small Batch Select Bourbon

You’d expect something even better from the expression called Small Batch Select, which came out in 2019, and you get it. This combines six of the ten Four Roses recipes, with 6-7 years of aging, for a bourbon that comes out at a hefty 52% ABV (104 proof).

The color is very slightly darker than the Small Batch, more of a copper color than honey. The nose is slightly different, too, with the vanilla-cream taking a step back and fruit and spice both much more evident. There’s a hint of raspberry, caramel, some oakiness, mint, honey, vanilla, and much more. It’s clearly a more complex bourbon than the Small Batch.

Tasting it is the same – plenty of sweet vanilla, with delicious red berry tastes, orange citrus, peppery spice, and a beautifully rich mouthfeel. The extra alcohol is certainly evident, but the drink remains smooth and it’s definitely a slow-sipper. It sells for about $55-60 so is half as much again as the Small Batch, but then there’s 50% more flavor and pleasure too.

The Four Roses Kentucky Bourbon Portfolio

Buying Four Roses Small Batch Bourbon

You can find details of your local stockists and links to buy these two bourbons on the Four Roses website. In the USA you can also buy it direct from Caskers, and in the UK and other countries through Master of Malt.