Four Roses For the Novice

[squire]

Between the Small Batch and Single Barrel I'll take the Batch every time. The folks at the House of Roses really know how to blend their recipes together.

[Brisko]

Between the Small Batch and Single Barrel I'll take the Batch every time. The folks at the House of Roses really know how to blend their recipes together.

Dagonnit, squire, you gotta quit agreeing with me all the time. people are going to talk.

[WAINWRIGHT]

I would also recommend the SmB and SB and bypass the Yellow label 8, just not that much there IMO.I enjoy the SB quite a bit more than the SmB and will admit it may start an obsession as it did for me to try all of the 10 offered in the SB selections.You will find it very interesting to see the variances among all of the different yeast strains ans mashbills and how they shine in their own special way.Yes I'm definitely a fan and hooked for life!

[Borchard]

Four Roses seems to make a bewildering variety of bourbons.

For a newbie, which are the best ones to start with?

I agree with what several others have said. Start with Small Batch

[bourbonandbacon]

SB (pitchfork raised)

[black mamba]

I had 3 or 4 of the SmB before I ever tried the 1B, and thought it was the way to go, terrific stuff.

But . . . then I tried the 1B, and have never looked back.

[ramblinman]

I've only had one bottle of SB, about 2/3 finished by now that a friend bought me last fall. Are all the single barrels one recipes by default or is the marking somewhere? Just looked at mine and don't see anything about the recipe used.

[black mamba]

I asked the same thing last week. All the standard SB offerings are OBSV: 60/35/5 mashbill, delicate fruit, spicey and creamy.

[Josh]

I started with the Yellow Label. I still like it as a mellow summertime pour and makes a very good mint Julep. I'd start there with an open mind. I remember when ANY four roses was very hard to find anywhere. The yellow label was a delicacy. Yellow label helps me appreciate the ltd eds and the single barrel.

[Alden]

I know where I can get one in 1B. What is a "reasonable" price for that?

That may be the first one I get.

[MyOldKyDram]

Just the standard single barrel, you mean? It's about $30 here, but depending on where you live could vary a bit.

[squire]

About $34.95 around here but I have seen in on seasonal special for $29.95.

[Alden]

Just the standard single barrel, you mean? It's about $30 here, but depending on where you live could vary a bit.

Yes.

About $34.95 around here but I have seen in on seasonal special for $29.95.

I think it was priced around $32-$36.

Thanks guys.

[Alden]

Just dropped by my LLS, the one they have is Small Batch, for $26.00.

I'll probably go back in a couple of hours and pick one up.

[sailor22]

Keep in mind when you say single barrel there is the standard Single Barrel (OBSV?) and there are many different retailer single barrel picks that are typically barrel strength and can be any of the 10 recipes. Also remember it's a single barrel bottling and there are some differences from barrel to barrel even in the shelf juice.

[Alden]

Keep in mind when you say single barrel there is the standard Single Barrel (OBSV?) and there are many different retailer single barrel picks that are typically barrel strength and can be any of the 10 recipes. Also remember it's a single barrel bottling and there are some differences from barrel to barrel even in the shelf juice.

This bottle says "Small Batch" on the label. Not "Single Barrel".

[sailor22]

This bottle says "Small Batch" on the label. Not "Single Barrel".

Understood Alden. I was referencing other recommendations for you to try the Single Barrel, and trying to make the point a Single Barrel Four Roses can be confusing to newbs.

The Small Batch is probably a great starting point for you especially if the Yellow Label isn't available.

[squire]

For me the Small Batch is the ending point which has been my position since Four Roses bottled their first single barrel.

[CoMobourbon]

Understood Alden. I was referencing other recommendations for you to try the Single Barrel, and trying to make the point a Single Barrel Four Roses can be confusing to newbs.

The Small Batch is probably a great starting point for you especially if the Yellow Label isn't available.

Yeah, really, the various special barrel strength single barrel offerings are really the main, if not the only, source of confusion about the Four Roses lineup.

Yellow is a good balanced basic bourbon that uses all of their yeast/mashbill combos. Small Batch is basically a better (90pf vs 80pf, presumably more selective barrel selection) and proportionally(?) more expensive version of the same thing. It does use a smaller range of their yeast/mashbill combos, but it still uses them for a balanced effect. Each of the single barrels, on the other hand, definitively use only one of the yeast/mashbill combos, and so each of them is pretty different. Plus, there is the distinction between the standard 100 pf and the barrel proof single barrels - obviously also a pretty big difference. (see the rest of the thread for the single barrel distinctions)

[scubadoo97]

I recommend the standard yellow label Four Roses, 80 proof.

I like Four Roses but the yellow label taste way too watered down for my taste. Especially knowing how good it can be.

I'd go with a single barrel OBSV. Lower rye with good red fruit flavors.

[Alden]

I had a sip. Contrasted it with OGD. Nothing alike.

There is a flavor, or flavors, in the 4R SmB that is/are unlike any I have tasted in any bourbon so far.

It almost tastes like corn to me, and I have never been able to pick that out in any other bourbon for some reason.

[black mamba]

I just tried the regular 80 proof 4R for the first time tonight, and even though it has less flavor than it's stronger siblings, it still has the luscious 4R mouth feel.

I then blended it with OGD BIB at 50/50, and it was just terrific. If you haven't tried this, you must!

[Alden]

I just tried the regular 80 proof 4R for the first time tonight, and even though it has less flavor than it's stronger siblings, it still has the luscious 4R mouth feel.

I then blended it with OGD BIB at 50/50, and it was just terrific. If you haven't tried this, you must!

Funny you mentioned this. I was thinking of doing the same thing.

[Nick Danger]

I'm also a Four Roses newbie. I started with the FR Small Batch, and just upgraded to the Single Barrel. For the extra $8 (Chicago prices) I'm very glad I got the FRSB. The Small Batch was very nice, but the Single Barrel is amazing. Very smooth, even at 100 proof. More peppery. More complex. Longer finish.

I'm still glad that I tried the Small Batch first. It's a fine bourbon. But now I'm spoiled.

Nick

[Alden]

Just went to Total Wine and Spirits and HOLY COW it's like the Walmart of booze at that place. Except without all the trashy people.

I saw 4 Roses Single B for $40.00, OGD 114 for $25, and a bunch of ryes I never even heard of.