Best Bourbon at San Francisco World Spirits Competition

[benpearson]

Four Roses OBSK 11yr 3mo selected by Crown Liquors wins best bourbon at San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

I figured that I would post this here, and hope that it's not seen as shameless self promotion. Rather, hopefully it will spark a debate on private barrel programs. I work for the retailer that entered this barrel into the competition and thought it was a worthy story to share.

The reason we wanted to enter the competition was to see if a barrel that we knew was very good would do well in competition, or if distilleries were only sending their absolute best product to these sorts of competitions. As we went through our normal barrel selection for the year we kept in mind that we would enter one into competition. When entering we had hopes that the product would do well, but of course had no we idea that it would win best bourbon.

As a retailer that cares about the quality of products that we have on the shelf, we go to Kentucky as often as possible to choose barrels. Over the course of the year we try several hundred barrels, and last year we picked about 20. It has been a popular program, and we have picked more barrels so far this year than we did the entire year last year. Sometimes when we sample product, we buy no barrels at all. Sometimes, we buy several. It really just depends on the quality of what is presented to us.

One of our favorite distilleries lately has been Four Roses. It seems that nearly every barrel that we sample is of extremely high quality, and all have been at the least very least good. My hope is that they have a large enough supply that this will continue to be the situation. It has become difficult to find product that passes our inspection at some distilleries and others have put their barrel programs on hold. I won't mention what distilleries we have had downright bad samples from, but trust me there have been several. We had one sample in particular that had such a strong soapy taste that it almost ruined my love of bourbon.

In addition to having high quality product, Four Roses has been a pleasure to deal with. Jim Rutledge has been as hospitable as possible. He always answers our questions, and I have learned more about bourbon from him than any other master distiller. If you ever get a chance to meet him, take it. Their sales team is also one of the most knowledgeable in the industry, probably because of Jim.

This award, more than anything goes to Jim Rutledge for bringing this brand back to the U.S. and sticking to his convictions about what makes a quality product. The man has more knowledge in one of the legal pads that he seems to constantly write notes on than could be gleaned from a master's degree.

We've seen quite a bit of demand for this particular barrel, and are going to do a one bottle per customer first come first served release on May 1st. We think the other barrel proof selections from Four Roses that we have had are on par with this barrel, and recently we picked an OBSQ that we think is even better. It does always come down to preference which recipe or even distillery a person prefers. It's nice to see a $50 bottle do so well in a competition. We don't have all 10 four roses in stock right now, but we have selected barrels to replenish supplies and should have them soon.

For up to date information on the release please like Crown Liquors on Facebook. Also if you are interested you can read a nice article by Fred Minnick here. Being in Indiana, we can't ship product.

[Restaurant man]

Good for you and Four Roses. Of course the upcoming GBS barrel will be the best bourbon in the universe!!!

[Tony Santana]

No problem with a little self-promotion, particularly if you have the goods to back it up. I was in Indy for the Big Ten hoops tourney recently and stopped by the Crown store on Delaware St. with my buddies that Friday. We bought a number of bottles (including some of the Four Roses barrel selections) and two of us came back on Saturday and got some more. Thoroughly enjoyed chatting with the guys behind the counter (it was a different one each day - perhaps you were one of them Ben), very knowledgable. Congrats on the pick of your barrel at the competition, I wish I was able to pick one up.

[benpearson]

No problem with a little self-promotion, particularly if you have the goods to back it up. I was in Indy for the Big Ten hoops tourney recently and stopped by the Crown store on Delaware St. with my buddies that Friday. We bought a number of bottles (including some of the Four Roses barrel selections) and two of us came back on Saturday and got some more. Thoroughly enjoyed chatting with the guys behind the counter (it was a different one each day - perhaps you were one of them Ben), very knowledgable. Congrats on the pick of your barrel at the competition, I wish I was able to pick one up.

Wasn't me, but the guys downtown know their bourbon too. Glad you liked them!

[Gentleman Racer]

I have a current Crown-selected OBSQ that is just fantastic. I preferred it over the 2013 SB LE in blind tasting. Can't wait for these coming releases. Great job!

[smokinjoe]

Good for you and Four Roses. Of course the upcoming GBS barrel will be the best bourbon in the universe!!!

Agreed! On the congratulations part to Crown anyway! . Everything about 4R is Top Notch, and good on Crown for selecting the best of the best. Hopefully, GBS can select one close to as good as theirs. Just go opposite of OX...

[MauiSon]

If ya can't dish the bad with the good, you've lost 1/2 yer value. Well done on the submission, tho.

[squire]

This is pleasant news. Store picks from Four Roses are almost becoming a category of their own.

[Quantum]

I think I am starting to feel a little offended by the shameless promotion, but a bottle of the winning selection would definitely take care of it. Any store selection of Four Roses would take me down to somewhere between "raised eyebrow" and "mildly disgruntled".

[Tony Santana]

I might even be "gruntled".

[PaulO]

I love to hear about single barrel selections, especially when they are available locally. So far, I've tried Crown selected Four Roses, Jeff Rye, and Old Scout. All very good. I wish you guys would select a barrel of wheated bourbon, like OWA. Is that even an option anymore?

[P&MLiquorsEric]

I love to hear about single barrel selections, especially when they are available locally. So far, I've tried Crown selected Four Roses, Jeff Rye, and Old Scout. All very good. I wish you guys would select a barrel of wheated bourbon, like OWA. Is that even an option anymore?

Not right now. No one is doing a wheated in a barrel selection program.

[benpearson]

I love to hear about single barrel selections, especially when they are available locally. So far, I've tried Crown selected Four Roses, Jeff Rye, and Old Scout. All very good. I wish you guys would select a barrel of wheated bourbon, like OWA. Is that even an option anymore?

I wish we could get our hands on a barrel of wheated bourbon as well. We might do a Bernheim Wheat Whiskey in the future. We have a barrel of Journeyman Buggy Whip Wheat that has been moved to stainless steel to await label approval to bottle at barrel proof. It's really good!

As far as wheated bourbon, I'm still holding onto hope that we stumble upon some through Smooth Ambler, Jeffersons, or Willett but those dreams may be unrealistic. I don't have much hope of getting a wheated barrel out of BT.

[Gentleman Racer]

I have a current Crown-selected OBSQ that is just fantastic. I preferred it over the 2013 SB LE in blind tasting. Can't wait for these coming releases. Great job!

Whoops, I meant a current OBSF.

[mbroo5880i]

I love to hear about single barrel selections, especially when they are available locally. So far, I've tried Crown selected Four Roses, Jeff Rye, and Old Scout. All very good. I wish you guys would select a barrel of wheated bourbon, like OWA. Is that even an option anymore?

I agree. Ben, Andy and the guys do a great job in selecting barrels! I also like to hear about new barrel selections from these guys. I have had their Jeff Rye, OS SA 8-Year, OESK, EC12, ER10 and BT. I also tried several of their FR selections during an event last October. The BT was, well, BT but the ER10 was very good. The others excellent! Kentucky Straight Bourbon may be made in Kentucky but a fair amount of the good stuff is making its way north!

Edited April 11, 2014 by mbroo5880i

[pmirish]

I agree. Ben, Andy and the guys do a great job in selecting barrels! I also like to hear about new barrel selections from these guys. I have had their Jeff Rye, OS SA 8-Year, OESK, EC12, ER10 and BT. I also tried several of their FR selections during an event last October. The BT was, well, BT but the ER10 was very good. The others excellent! Kentucky Straight Bourbon may be made in Kentucky but a fair amount of the good stuff is making its way north!

[benpearson]

I have a couple here. Call the avon store sometime during the day and I can have sent to the closest store to you.

[pmirish]

Thanks, Ben! Excited to try the FR too. I had purchased a previous one last summer or so, can't remember the recipe off hand but it was like 13y4m and it was fantastic.

[DPPSmoker]

Hi Ben. I recently stopped by your stores on 116th and Southport based on the advise of some guys who already posted in this thread. I really enjoy Four Roses Barrel Strength bourbons. I was able to purchase two different barrel strength bourbons when I visited Four Roses distillery last week and I was able to purchase Crown's FR OESK bourbon during my trip as well. You were quoted in Fred Minnick's article as liking a Crown selected bottle of the OESK better than the award winning OBSK bottle. Did I purchase the OESK bottle that you referred to in the article or did your comment refer to a new OESK bottle?

Also, will there be other new Crown selected bourbons available when your release the FR OBSK bourbon on May 1? Thanks.

[JKLS]

I have a couple here. Call the avon store sometime during the day and I can have sent to the closest store to you.

Is the Avon store the one to visit if we are in the Indy area? I will be visiting a buddy in Bloomington this summer, probably won't have too much free time in Indy.

[mbroo5880i]

Is the Avon store the one to visit if we are in the Indy area? I will be visiting a buddy in Bloomington this summer, probably won't have too much free time in Indy.

Either the Avon store or the downtown store are your best options for bourbon and whiskey. Both stores have great selections and the managers of those stores are very knowledgeable and helpful. Ben manages the Avon store and Andy manages the downtown store. You can Google directions but the downtown store is probably the easiest to access by out of town visitors. The Avon store is my main store but I live on the west side of Indy.

[wadewood]

I'm still going to call the SF WSC what I think it is - pay for play advertising where about everybody 'wins' some award. And I think it's best not to play. But that said you won more than just some medal, congrats for Best Bourbon!

I was at Four Roses at the launch back into the US with 4R SB. Jim was pulling samples from a barrel of OBSV and I was blown away then. Their barrel selection program is awesome and I've been fortunate enough to buy many bottles from different barrel selections.

[benpearson]

Hi Ben. I recently stopped by your stores on 116th and Southport based on the advise of some guys who already posted in this thread. I really enjoy Four Roses Barrel Strength bourbons. I was able to purchase two different barrel strength bourbons when I visited Four Roses distillery last week and I was able to purchase Crown's FR OESK bourbon during my trip as well. You were quoted in Fred Minnick's article as liking a Crown selected bottle of the OESK better than the award winning OBSK bottle. Did I purchase the OESK bottle that you referred to in the article or did your comment refer to a new OESK bottle?

Also, will there be other new Crown selected bourbons available when your release the FR OBSK bourbon on May 1? Thanks.

1. Yes, that is the OESK that I love. Hope you enjoyed it.

2. Yes, we will be tasting nearly every "crown selected" single barrel that we have on hand. We will have another event in June with all 10 four roses recipes.

3. We have finalized the time for the event. It is going to be May 1st at the Downtown store from 6-8pm. All details should be on facebook today, or you can sign up for the email list at crownliquors.net

[DPPSmoker]

1. Yes, that is the OESK that I love. Hope you enjoyed it.

2. Yes, we will be tasting nearly every "crown selected" single barrel that we have on hand. We will have another event in June with all 10 four roses recipes.

3. We have finalized the time for the event. It is going to be May 1st at the Downtown store from 6-8pm. All details should be on facebook today, or you can sign up for the email list at crownliquors.net