Which Four Roses expression should I buy?
Hello,
I'd like to give Four Roses another chance after being unimpressed with one of the expressions (don't remember which) a few years ago. But Binny's has a ton of options:
Small Batch - $29.99
Yellow Label - $19.99
Single Barrel - $38.99
Barrel Strength Single Barrel OBSQ Binny's Handpicked - $54.99
Barrel Strength Single Barrel OESQ Binny's Handpicked - $54.99
Barrel Strength Single Barrel OBSF Binny's Handpicked - $54.99
Barrel Strength Single Barrel OESK Binny's Handpicked - $54.99
Barrel Strength Single Barrel OESO Binny's Handpicked - $54.99
Barrel Strength Single Barrel OBSV Binny's Handpicked - $54.99
Barrel Strength Single Barrel OESF Binny's Handpicked - $54.99
Barrel Strength Single Barrel OBSK Binny's Handpicked - $54.99
Barrel Strength Single Barrel OBSO Binny's Handpicked - $54.99
2011 Limited Edition Small Batch - $79.99
2011 Single Barrel Limited Edition Vintage - $79.99
2012 Single Barrel Limited Edition Vintage - $79.99
(I don't know if all of these are actually in stock.)
The $80 bottles are a bit steep for me. The $55 bottles fall right about at my upper limit, but if I'm spending that much I don't want to just pick one of nine (!) different mash bills and just hope it's good. So which one of these should I grab? I tend to like older bourbons, I love Weller 12, loved EC18, and loved some of the EWSB bottlings.
Re: Which Four Roses expression should I buy?
I like the spiciness of the OBSK, but obviously these bottles very greatly from bottle to bottle. I had a bottle from the party source in KY and enjoyed it immensely. At the end of the day, hard to go wrong with the standard Single Barrel. I always seem to have one open on my bar at home.
Re: Which Four Roses expression should I buy?
I agree - 4R Single Barrel is a dream of a whiskey. Small Batch is a bit thin for my liking, but still, any 4R product is good!
Re: Which Four Roses expression should I buy?
I've tried the Yellow Label and the basic Small Batch. Small Batch hands down.
Re: Which Four Roses expression should I buy?
Four Roses is different than other distilleries. Heaven Hill puts out one mashbill at several ages, so if you like one, chances are you will like another. 4R does several mashbills and several ages, so it's a bit harder to dismiss the whole or like the whole just trying one.
For instance I love yellow label, don't really dig small batch, and some of the single barrels are just OK. But I also rate an OESK one of the best whiskeys I've had to date.
Knowing that, here's my opinion: Try yellow label. See how it works for you, it's cheap enough. If you like the spicy sweetness, try the standard single barrel. See how it treats you. Take your time and explore gently, as your curiosity dictates. Remember, most of the 4R products are high rye, one of the highest if I remember right. Looking at my notes they have 2 rye contents, 35% and 20%. It may be that high rye, slightly younger whiskeys are not to your liking right now, or ever.
If you've tried Bulleit, you've pretty much tried the small batch, I think it's that similar.
Everyone's taste is different, the only thing you can do is try them!
Re: Which Four Roses expression should I buy?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
enn
Hello,
I'd like to give Four Roses another chance after being unimpressed with one of the expressions (don't remember which) a few years ago. But Binny's has a ton of options:
Small Batch - $29.99
Yellow Label - $19.99
Single Barrel - $38.99
Barrel Strength Single Barrel OBSQ Binny's Handpicked - $54.99
Barrel Strength Single Barrel OESQ Binny's Handpicked - $54.99
Barrel Strength Single Barrel OBSF Binny's Handpicked - $54.99
Barrel Strength Single Barrel OESK Binny's Handpicked - $54.99
Barrel Strength Single Barrel OESO Binny's Handpicked - $54.99
Barrel Strength Single Barrel OBSV Binny's Handpicked - $54.99
Barrel Strength Single Barrel OESF Binny's Handpicked - $54.99
Barrel Strength Single Barrel OBSK Binny's Handpicked - $54.99
Barrel Strength Single Barrel OBSO Binny's Handpicked - $54.99
2011 Limited Edition Small Batch - $79.99
2011 Single Barrel Limited Edition Vintage - $79.99
2012 Single Barrel Limited Edition Vintage - $79.99
(I don't know if all of these are actually in stock.)
The $80 bottles are a bit steep for me. The $55 bottles fall right about at my upper limit, but if I'm spending that much I don't want to just pick one of nine (!) different mash bills and just hope it's good. So which one of these should I grab? I tend to like older bourbons, I love Weller 12, loved EC18, and loved some of the EWSB bottlings.
All of them.
Seriously, though, you can't go wrong with any of those, except for the F yeast ones. Stay away.
Re: Which Four Roses expression should I buy?
Personally, I prefer the SmB over the SB. The few bottles of the SB I've had have always been hot and one dimensional to me. Whereas the standard SmB seems to have a little more complexity to it. As for the more rare/special editions, I've only had the 2010 SmB and did not care for it at all.
Re: Which Four Roses expression should I buy?
Most recent TPS one we got was the OESQ, and I can't say enough good things about it.
