Four Roses 135th Anniversary Limited Edition Small Batch is the 2023 edition of the distillery's most celebrated annual release, created to mark 135 years of Four Roses. Master Distiller Brent Elliott blended four of the distillery's bourbon recipes aged from 12 to 25 years, including the oldest bourbon Four Roses has ever used in a special release. It is bottled at 108 proof.
Four Roses is unique in Kentucky for combining two mash bills with five proprietary yeast strains to create ten distinct bourbon recipes, and the Limited Edition Small Batch is where those recipes are blended at their most mature. The 2023 edition combines a 12-year-old OESV (35%), a 14-year-old OESK (40%), a 16-year-old OESV (20%) and a 25-year-old OBSV (5%). The older OESV components bring fruit and caramel, the OESK adds baking spice, and the rare 25-year-old OBSV contributes depth, fruit and rye character.
On the nose, allspice, vanilla and oak are joined by hints of cinnamon and clove. The palate offers honey and rye spice with ripe berries and pear, leading into a long, mellow finish. Soft, smooth and characteristically shareable, it shows the house style at its most refined. The release was limited to 15,060 bottles.
The rounded bottle carries a special 135 anniversary seal and a gold medallion, making this one of the most collectible Four Roses bottlings of recent years.
Tasting Notes
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Nose: Allspice, vanilla and oak, with hints of cinnamon and clove.
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Palate: Honey and rye spice, with ripe berries and pear.
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Finish: Long and mellow.
Specifications
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Producer: Four Roses
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Style: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, small batch
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Expression / Batch: 135th Anniversary Limited Edition Small Batch (2023)
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Age: Blend of bourbons aged 12, 14, 16 and 25 years
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Proof / ABV: 108 proof (54% ABV)
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Cask / Finish: OESV 12 (35%), OESK 14 (40%), OESV 16 (20%), OBSV 25 (5%)
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Region: Kentucky, United States
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Size: 750ml
How to Enjoy It
Taste it neat first, then add a few drops of water to open up the fruit and spice; a single large ice cube also works well at this proof. It pairs with pecan pie, dark chocolate or a medium-bodied cigar, and it makes a prized gift for any bourbon collector.
Frequently Asked Questions
What recipes are in the 2023 Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch?
A 12-year OESV (35%), 14-year OESK (40%), 16-year OESV (20%) and 25-year OBSV (5%).
How many bottles were released?
15,060 bottles.
What proof is it?
It is bottled at 108 proof, or 54% ABV.
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