Four Roses 120th vs 40th

[Stu]

This is the first thread I've ever started. I'm probably going out on a limb and carrying a saw with me, but tonight I compared FR 120th anniversary (120) with Jim Rutledge's 40th (40). The 40 was from barrel 15-1A from warehouse SS @52.5% and the 120 was from barrel 7-1J, warehouse JW @ 55.8%. There was no difference in color. Both were the same shade of reddish bronze. The legs were also equal.

The nose on the 40 was chocolate with a hint of mint. The 120 nose was chocolate with berries. (I always get chocolate from FR, but I'm a chocoholic).

The pallet of the 40 was dark chocolate evolving into chocolate truffle as I chewed it. The 120 was chocolate and berries becoming chocolate covered cherries as I chewed. The spice and vanilla were more pronounced on the 120 although they were evident on the 40.

Both had a long pleasant finish. The 40 finish was chocolate going into a darker more bitter chocolate (85% cocoa?) with time. When the chocolate was at it's darkest some anise came through. The finish on the 120 was dryer and cleaner. By clean I mean when I inhaled it was the same feeling as inhaling after a menthol cough drop - but there was no taste of menthol, just that clean feeling. The anise appeared sooner and stronger than in the 40, and eventually evolve into a citrus (orange?) flavor.

All in all, they were both excellent bourbons and the family resemblance was quite evident.

So much for the tasting notes of a bourbon newbie. How about some of you experts telling me what nuances I missed. I'll look for them the next time I visit those bottles.

[spun_cookie]

Great notes. Your 120th is better than mine...

[jburlowski]

My vote goes to the 40th.

[birdman1099]

I think those notes were great. I do not get a lot of chocolate in either of them, but I completely agree with the citrus finish of the 40th.

I don't mind the 120, but the 40th has my number !!!!:grin:

[OscarV]

I get dark fruit sweetness and rye spice at the same time in both.

The 40th has an additional demension and a fruitier deptness, but I am not knocking the 120th.

[Stu]

Personally, I too, prefer the 40. My wife, however, prefers the 120. I think they're both terrific bourbons. I remember Jim saying that Kirin told him he could pick any barrels he wanted for his 40th. He obviously chose nothing but the best honey barrels he could find. I'm guessing that Kirin gave a Four Roses profile they wanted for the 120th.

[Stu]

I get dark fruit sweetness and rye spice at the same time in both.

The 40th has an additional demension and a fruitier deptness, but I am not knocking the 120th.

Thanks, Oscar, I'll look for that the next time I visit them.

[spun_cookie]

I have only had the one botteling of the 120th and it did not float my boat, but all of the 40th I have had are top notch. Each a little diffrent, but a lot more depth as OV has stated...

[OscarV]

I remember Jim saying that Kirin told him he could pick any barrels he wanted for his 40th. He obviously chose nothing but the best honey barrels he could find. I'm guessing that Kirin gave a Four Roses profile they wanted for the 120th.

I also think that they are both the same stuff.

Meaning the same mashbill and yeast strain.

Jim probably got the cream and when Kirin saw the success of the 40th in both sales and PR buzz they got what was left to do the 120th.

No inside info on my part, just an opinion formed by tasting them.

[CorvallisCracker]

I could swear I posted into this thread.

It wasn't anything offensive (I'm sure of that) so I can't understand why it would have been deleted, if that's what happened.

[OscarV]

I could swear I posted into this thread.

It wasn't anything offensive (I'm sure of that) so I can't understand why it would have been deleted, if that's what happened.

You know what might have happened, you might have clicked on "Preview Post" thinking that it was "Submit Reply" and then went elsewhere after that and the post never got posted.

Happened to me before.

[Lost Pollito]

I'm pretty sure I read that missing post a couple of hours ago.

[smokinjoe]

Are you sure you were properly logged on? It doesn't show that you have been logged on lately. Maybe, that's it?

[BengalMan]

After trying one of the bottles of the 120th that I picked up a few months back, I enjoyed it, but I didn't think it was mind blowing. I will revisit it in a few months and see if my taste buds have changed at all towards this bottling.

[ACDetroit]

BengalMan! welcome back, you have no idea how happy I am to see you. I will say from my opinion I was wowed by the 120th the first time I had it. I have not had a 40th side by side though.

If I have a couple close in proof I may pull the trigger on this exercise!

Cheers!

Tony

[BengalMan]

Good to talk to you on here as well Tony. I completely forgot about this site until you mentioned it this evening. I'm going to crack a bottle of the Mariage this weekend and see how it is compared to the 120th. I've only tasted the 40th one time with a friend as I wasn't ever able to get a bottle. No worries though, just glad I got a hold of the 120th and the Mariage.

[jburlowski]

BengalMan! welcome back, you have no idea how happy I am to see you. I will say from my opinion I was wowed by the 120th the first time I had it. I have not had a 40th side by side though.

If I have a couple close in proof I may pull the trigger on this exercise!

Cheers!

Tony

Done the side-by-side and have to give the nod to the 40th.

Both are very good, but the 40th is better.

[BourbonJoe]

I agree John.

Joe :usflag: