Four Roses Single Barrel Private Selection for the Gift Shop

[sysrick]

While attending "Four Roses History and Hot Toddies with Al Young" at the distillery this week (as always a great event, thanks 4R and Al!) was told that the Gift Shop was selling bottles from barrel #2 and barrel #3 (barrel #1 sold out in the first 2 weeks) of a new series (that were just bottled that day).

From the label:

Specially Selected by Jim Rutledge Four Roses Master Distiller

"Barrel #2 in a series of special 16 year-old OBSV barrels hand-selected for the Four Roses Gift Shop. All barrels are rich in red berry fruitiness, nutmeg, spiciness with a sweet caramel finish that is long and exceptionally smooth for a Bourbon bottled at barrel strength. A Bourbon to be sipped and savored."

Indeed! They were priced under $60.

Barrel 2 61.7% Warehouse QS Barrel 78-5A

Barrel 3 61.0% Warehouse QS Barrel 78-5B

[jjk]

I have been meaning to start a thread on this bourbon as well to see if anyone knew much about it or had tried it. I have searched this site previously to see if anyone posted about it but could find nothing.

I was at Four Roses last month (4-5 weeks ago) and they had this. It was likely the first release (Warehouse QS, Barrel 78-3B, 55.5% alcohol). Chatting with the folks in the gift shop, they mentioned that it just put out that day for the first time and that it was selling very well. They also said that the barrel was supposedly in the running for the Limited Edition Single Barrel bottling. They went on to say that even though it was not chosen for that particular bottling, Jim Rutledge liked the barrel enough that he wanted to do a special bottling. So they did and it was only available at the gift shop. They did not indicate that this was something that was normally done, nor if it was part of a series (maybe the first bottle sold so well they then decided to do more?). It was being sold for $57 per bottle if I remember correctly.

Of course I had to pick up a bottle (actually two). I originally intended to rush home to try it to determine if this really was a particularly special barrel. If it was special, the plan was to try to get back there to pick up more. In reality I have not cracked one yet as I have a number of other bottles open right now.

Label states:

"Specially Selected by Jim Rutledge

Unbelievably smooth and mellow for a 16 year old Bourbon which has been bottled at barrel strength. Definitely a sipping Bourbon, but this will take more than one sip to appreciate the rich full-bodied flavor and the long softr finish of this masterpiece.

Four Roses Recipe Selected: OBSV"

So, has anyone else picked up any of these bottles or have any additional information on them? Anyone tasted one yet? I tried to talk the 4R guys into cracking one open for our tasting but of course they politely declined.

Jeff

[Beer&Bourbon]

I've also been meaning to post about this. Jim first mentioned this at the 4R dinner at Bourbon's bistro the week before I headed down to tour the distilleries. He said it was one of the best bourbons he's produced and that it would be sold at the gift shop only late November/ early December.

I picked up a couple of bottles, but haven't really spent any time with it yet (since I've been sick the past couple of weeks). Regardless, it's a 16 year, barrel proof, single barrel expression from 4R for less than $60 (a no brainer IMHO).

He said he wanted to use these as the LE for 2012, but that there weren't enough barrels to do so, which is why they're releasing it like they are. I'm not sure how many barrels it was in total.

[Young Blacksmith]

I'll be by there next week to see if there are any left. :grin:

[DeanSheen]

Regardless, it's a 16 year, barrel proof, single barrel expression from 4R for less than $60 (a no brainer IMHO).

You can say that again.

[Beer&Bourbon]

Here's the mellow moments club newsletter where he announces these barrels. It looks like there are only 3 barrels available. I'm hoping to get back down there to pick up a few bottles of the other barrel(s), but we'll see if I can get there fast enough.

Happy holidays everyone!

4R newsletter.pdf

[MacinJosh]

Thanks for the newsletter post! Sounds great!

Josh

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Old Lamplighter]

I'll be by there next week to see if there are any left. :grin:

Sure wish I could get up that way...may have to bow down to the god that is ebay for one of these...lol...they already showin up there for $100+

[jjk]

I stopped by the Four Roses gift shop on my way across Kentucky, heading towards my in-laws earlier this week (Monday, December 26). At the time they had a fair amount of bottles #2 and #3. I believe they had somewhere in the 70-80 range of total bottles left. I am not sure of the breakdown between what was left of each bottle. However, they did tell me that Barrel #3 produced ~125 bottles and Barrel #2 produced ~96 bottles . They gave me the exact numbers but I forgot (sorry).

I picked up a couple bottles of each barrel as a belated Christmas present to myself. I cracked a bottle of Barrel #3 earlier this week while visiting the in-laws. While I am not especially eloquent or wordy with my reviews, I will offer my opinion since I have not seen anyone else's yet (here or elsewhere), outside of Jim Rutledge's. Barrel #3 is 122 proof. I drank it both neat and with a splash of water. I did no measuring, but I am guessing with water I got it down to 100-110 proof. I preferred it with the splash of water, just seemed to open up some of the flavors and smooth it out a little. I tasted carmel notes and dark cherry. The finish was elegant (sounds weird but that is the word that comes to mind - very mild, pleasant, and lingering) and very long. I thought it was an excellent bourbon. Oddly, it tasted better the 2nd and 3rd night I drank it. The first night it tasted good, but the subsequent nights it truly lived up to its billing as a rare treat.

I would encourage anyone who has the chance to pick up a bottle of this if you can. I arrived Monday at the FR gift shop around 11 am and they had already sold 12 bottles that day, so it may already be gone (or else will be soon). They did not indicate if they planned any further distillery gift shop exclusive bottlings. Even if they do, they may be hard-pressed to equal this one in quality, especially considering the back story on these three barrels. I was shocked to read in Mellow Moments that Jim Rutledge called this the best bourbon he has ever tasted. Not because I don't think it is a phenominal bourbon, but that is a pretty bold statement coming from a guy like Jim Rutledge. I would not call it the best bourbon I have ever tasted (not surprising since taste is subjective and I generally prefer wheaters), but it is a fine, fine bourbon and well worth the ~$60 price tag.

Get it while you can and I would love to hear the opinion of others who may have tasted any of these three barrels.

[Young Blacksmith]

I stopped by yesterday at the distillery, they only had barrel 3's left, so I grabbed two, the standard SB minimum quota. :grin:

They only had about 2 dozen left too, so they'll probably be gone in the first week of January.

[Old Lamplighter]

If anyone out there gets an extra one of these which they might be interested in a trade for something on their wishlist, send me a PM. Maybe we can help each other....thanx!

[jjk]

I would be really interested in hearing any one else's take on these bottles if they had the chance to buy/taste them. I have only tried Barrel #3.

If anyone is interested in trading for a bottle of this let me know. As I mentioned earlier, I was lucky enough to get my hands on some of these bottles. I would be willing to trade for something on wish list.

PM me if interested.

Thanks.

[MacinJosh]

PM sent.

Josh

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[BradleyC]

Does anyone know if these are still available at the gift shop?

[Tony]

I was at the gift shop at Cox Creek on January 5th and they did not have any left.

Best regards, tony

[Beer&Bourbon]

I highly doubt it. Someone mentioned that they only had a few bottles left at the beginning of the new year. I was trying to plan a trip down, but I figured they'd be gone by then. You could always call them and ask, though.

[BradleyC]

Thanks for the replies guys. I'll give them a call