Which Four Roses expression should I buy?

[scratchline]

All of them.

Seriously, though, you can't go wrong with any of those, except for the F yeast ones. Stay away.

Last night, best Four Roses I have EVER had: 10 yr, 4 mth, OESF. Never been a huge Four Roses guy, but this is one of my top whiskies EVER. I wish I had every bottle from this barrel.

-Mike

Edited June 13, 2013 by scratchline

[Old Dusty]

Last night, best Four Roses I have EVER had: 10 yr, 4 mth, OESF. Never been a huge Four Roses guy, but this was one of my top whiskies EVER. I wish I had every bottle from this barrel.

Gift shop or Private Selection? I have a TPS Private Selection Barrel Strength OESF at 9yr. 11mo that I haven't opened yet but your post may be the catalyst to do so.

[scratchline]

Private Selection. Just looked at the Party Source site. I'd say open your bottle and try it. Particularly since you can get another one if you end up sharing my enthusiasm for this recipe.

BTW, I didn't find it especially minty. Very round and dark. And to me the higher proof made it richer than some of the other barrel strength Four Roses I've tried. It was very easy to drink without water.

-Mike

[Dolph Lundgren]

Glad this thread has been revived because my opinions have changed a bit. I think the F yeast strain is the most volitile, but can yield some amazing results. I've tried a few OBSFs that were meh at best. Then I tried an OESF aged a tad over ten years that was absolutely amazing - real earthy and organic tasting - outside FR's normal profile. I have a new respect for the F yeast these days.

[scratchline]

Justin, I agree with you about this bottle being outside the characteristic taste profile for Four Roses. In fact, I wouldn't have identified it as a Four Roses bourbon if I had tasted it blind. I guess it's just more proof of how big the Four Roses playing field is.

[Unearthed]

Just picked up a bottle of the limited edition 2013 single barrel. Kind of intimidating at 122 proof. I have not opened it yet, but I am really looking forward to trying it. I never was a fan of Four Roses, but recently I've been able to try some of their limited and/or single barrel releases and I've really enjoyed them.

[Old Dusty]

Private Selection. Just looked at the Party Source site. I'd say open your bottle and try it. Particularly since you can get another one if you end up sharing my enthusiasm for this recipe.

BTW, I didn't find it especially minty. Very round and dark. And to me the higher proof made it richer than some of the other barrel strength Four Roses I've tried. It was very easy to drink without water.

-Mike

Thanks Mike, and for the review as well.

[rndenks]

I am a big fan of the regular SB, and I am wrapping up my second bottle. I also recently picked up a TPS SB OBSK. I have only had one pour, and did a brief tasting with standard SB. The OBSK is bit spicier, but in a good way. I like them both but I am not sure the OBSK is worth the extra $20+/-. I think I will always have a regular SB open on the shelf, but will continue to try the other recipes when I can.

[mbroo5880i]

Do they rotate the blend each year for their regular bottlings of SB? For example, OESQ one year and then a different blend the next. Do they release all blends in their regular SB bottlings over time?

[Yeti]

SB is always OBSV. Every time. SmB is always a blend of OBSO, OBSK, OESO, and OESK.

I've been spoiled with some extra aged OBSV and OBSK over the last 6 months, so that's skewed my preference toward those two. But at around the standard 10 year window I haven't tried enough of the different bottles to have an educated opinion. I've got plans to change that.

Edited June 13, 2013 by Yeti

[omgmarclol]

cosign on this. my favorite 4R recipe(s) though are B/E K

Glad this thread has been revived because my opinions have changed a bit. I think the F yeast strain is the most volitile, but can yield some amazing results. I've tried a few OBSFs that were meh at best. Then I tried an OESF aged a tad over ten years that was absolutely amazing - real earthy and organic tasting - outside FR's normal profile. I have a new respect for the F yeast these days.

[P&MLiquorsEric]

Glad this thread has been revived because my opinions have changed a bit. I think the F yeast strain is the most volitile, but can yield some amazing results. I've tried a few OBSFs that were meh at best. Then I tried an OESF aged a tad over ten years that was absolutely amazing - real earthy and organic tasting - outside FR's normal profile. I have a new respect for the F yeast these days.

[scratchline]

Our labels for two barrels of F. Both in same warehouse and similar age. One was 2nd (of 6) tier and the other was 4th tier. [ATTACH]15718[/ATTACH]

[P&MLiquorsEric]

My store: packages & more liquors in Elizabethtown, KY. I am part of a buying group. The barrels will be split amongst our 15 members (from louisville to bowling green) but we plan to take quite a bit of it since we selected the barrels.

[hectic1]

My store: packages & more liquors in Elizabethtown, KY. I am part of a buying group. The barrels will be split amongst our 15 members (from louisville to bowling green) but we plan to take quite a bit of it since we selected the barrels.

[Old Dusty]

Anyone have much experience w the "O" s? A local store here has Private Selection OESO and OBSO. They don't seem to have appeared in many of the LE's except as vatting adds to the SmB.

[Phil T]

Anyone have much experience w the "O" s? A local store here has Private Selection OESO and OBSO. They don't seem to have appeared in many of the LE's except as vatting adds to the SmB.

I've had the Kahn's OESO, I dig it..YMMV

And, I finished a bottle of their OBSF a couple weeks ago, quite good also.

Edited June 14, 2013 by Phil T

[Josh]

I am also a big fan of Os. I like the O recipes from Four Roses too.

[Jackinbox]

I'm curious about the OESF. I'm assuming getting a bottle of this is going to require me finding a retailer that did a special barrel buy? I don't recall seeing this one in the gift shop.

[HighInTheMtns]

I'm curious about the OESF. I'm assuming getting a bottle of this is going to require me finding a retailer that did a special barrel buy? I don't recall seeing this one in the gift shop.

Finding a retailer would be easiest. I think TPS has all 10. The gift shop doesn't stock all 10 at once but they'll likely have one sooner or later.

[Restaurant man]

I am also a big fan of Os. I like the O recipes from Four Roses too.

Love me some O's.

[Old Dusty]

I'm curious about the OESF. I'm assuming getting a bottle of this is going to require me finding a retailer that did a special barrel buy? I don't recall seeing this one in the gift shop.

TPS should have it in stock and at barrel strength. I brought one home a couple of weeks ago. It's worth the trip over anyway-ask for Eric if he's around. Nice guy and knows his stuff. They also have single barrel store selected OWA.

[Dolph Lundgren]

I'm curious about the OESF. I'm assuming getting a bottle of this is going to require me finding a retailer that did a special barrel buy? I don't recall seeing this one in the gift shop.

Yup. It's also better to try the F strain before you buy. It can be great stuff, or it can totally tank. A forum member bought a local retailer's OBSF, and man, was it bad. I've found that the OBSV is the safest bet if you can't try beforehand, IMO.

[WAINWRIGHT]

Yup. It's also better to try the F strain before you buy. It can be great stuff, or it can totally tank. A forum member bought a local retailer's OBSF, and man, was it bad. I've found that the OBSV is the safest bet if you can't try beforehand, IMO.

I couldn't agree more with this statement,I have had some younger selections that were just flat out bad and some older selections provided by another member here that was some of the best FR's I've ever tasted.Try before for you buy indeed!

[scratchline]

Got into an 8yr, 8m OESQ last night. It didn't have the knock-your-socks-off appeal of the F but was still fantastic whiskey. More restrained but no less flavorful. More of a peach, perfume flavor. At almost 120 it was higher proof than most of the other Four Roses I've had and carried it very well. It was bottled for a local steak house and for that reason I was expecting something a little bolder but wasn't at all disappointed by what it was. For me, these single recipe Four Roses hold their own with the Limited Releases at a much lower price.

-Mike