Thread to catalogue your "ALL RECIPES!" quest

[suntour]

So I wonder what percentage of bourbon dorks are endeavoring to get all of the Four Roses recipes at barrel strength. Lets make this a place to discuss this, make recommendations, or to just ask ourselves why.

Four Roses is definitely what turned me from "I like whiskey" to "I am obsessed with whiskey, particularly Four Roses whiskey". It was a store-pick bottle that did it, one that was suggested by an extremely helpful forum member. That particular bottle was for Imperial, a swanky restaurant in Portland. It is a big, bold version of OBSV, actually much punchier than others I've discovered. I drained that bottle in a few days, by myself, which is more than my usual consumption, and by the time it was gone I realized nothing else in my cabinet hit that same spot. I went back and bought three more, and I have only about an ounce left of my last bottle. Interestingly, I wondered if it was something particularly amazing about this bottle, and there is something to this - everybody who tasted it LOVED it, even some non-bourbon drinking folks and a couple others who swore up and down the only whiskey they liked was Jack Daniels. I have picked up two other 50% OBSV store picks and they've been surprisingly different - a Lincoln City Liquor pick that is just the bee's knees if you like a sweeter bourbon, and the non-barrel strength Oregon Bartender's Guild pick. It has a great nose and a big chewiness that I love, but a strangely nutrisweet characteristic at full strength and too oaky with water.

Since then its gone something like this -

OBSK, Oregon Bartender's Guild. 53%. 11 years. Not all that impressive upon opening, this has really blossomed into something nice. Doesn't take water all that well, but full of spice and fruit at full proof. Fairly large oak presence which prompted my "Are all FR BS recipes oak bombs" that seemed to get a "burn the witch!" response.

OBSV, Belmont Beverages of Fort Wayne, IN, 57.6% NAS. I just opened this yesterday, but it appears to be very good straight out of the gates. Splits the difference between the punchiness of the Imperial Pick and the smoooothness of the Lincoln City. Tons of bright fruit notes alongside big rye notes and just the lightest bit of oak. I had low expectations with this one because this liquor chain kind of stinks, but it is a killer. Takes water decently, but I get a hint of the "nutrisweet" that I did with the Bartender Guild pick when too diluted.

OESQ, Small Batch Liquors of Denver, CO, 57.1%, 10 years. There are a lot of OBSK and OBSV store picks it seems, particularly around the Portland area (basically the only place in the state you can get the barrel proof bottlings) so I had to go far afield to find a recipe I considered kind of exotic. This thing is delicious. Definitely like sniffing a rose garden, and strangely I get a lot of rye from this as well. This is one of the drier recipes I've encountered. I feel like there's more complexity here, in that I taste different things in it nearly every night. Oak is big here, and some tannins often remind me of certain kinds of tea. Dilutes well, in fact I think I like this one watered down to about 90% more than any of the others. Also, I like this one much more now than when I opened it.

OBSQ, Seattle Craft Beer Week Pick 2014, 59.9%, 10 years 4 months. Stumbled across this while in Vancouver Washington, and knew I had to have it ... until I got to the register and figured out I'd be parting with nearly $80 for the privilege. Well, I was on vacation so I did it. Anyways, I expected there to be some correlation with the OESO, since they are of a similar proof and age, but of course, no go. This thing is the biggest vanilla bomb I've ever encountered in a bourbon. Vanilla all over the nose and taste, little herbal characteristics as well, but mostly vanilla. Super sweet, with almost no oak, until you water it way down. This one is fun, and I can see why beer guys picked it - the vanilla and mint I get remind me almost a little of a hoppy beer. This one has only been open a few days but I don't have a sense of it calling me like some other picks do.

What have I taken away from this so far? Well, one is that the cynic in me almost wants to call bullshit on the whole recipe angle in the first place. There's simply too much variation in age, warehouse location, and overall flavor differences from THE SAME RECIPE AT THE SAME PROOF for comparison to even really make sense. In that way, it wouldn't be insane to just collect a bunch of the 50% recipes if you really are just wanting to truly compare differences. Even the "low rye/high rye" dichotomy is a tough one - just so many variables. The truth of the matter is, its just fun to taste a lot of different whiskies, and using the "10 recipes" benchmark is definitely a fun way at it, but don't expect to have your mind blown with the differences. Even with decent experience with each of these bottles, I'm not sure I'd be able to identify them from one another. They definitely all have a Four Roses footprint on them, which is that deep cherry/fruit note and honey/rye interplay. I'm hoping to pick up an F recipe soon, many people say that is one of the more variant/left field yeasts. White dog in general is gross but I have to say I'd really enjoy tasting the 10 recipes in that format - seems like the closest you could get to a level playing field for trying them.

So, six more recipes to go I guess.

[nd2005]

I have 9 of the 10. The only one I'm missing is OBSV - which I'm not in as big a hurry to snatch up since it's just a barrel proof offering of the "regular" single barrel.

But I haven't cracked all of them open - that would be way too many open bottles to accommodate in my bar space. I've opened two at a time - an OE and an OB of the same yeast strain (e.g. OBSK and OESK) - that way I'm only comparing one aspect at a time. I suppose the next bottle I open I will do a side by side to compare OB and two different yeast strains (e.g. OBSK and OBSQ)

*I got to taste 6 of the 9 bottles I have before buying so I wasn't going in blind on them.

[T Comp]

The truth of the matter is, its just fun to taste a lot of different whiskies, and using the "10 recipes" benchmark is definitely a fun way at it,...

That's it! What this should all be about. But as to the purpose of the thread, and even though I've tasted them all and own them all, I can't contribute because for me I'd rather just keep having fun :cool:.

[Richnimrod]

That's it! What this should all be about. But as to the purpose of the thread, and even though I've tasted them all and own them all, I can't contribute because for me I'd rather just keep having fun :cool:.

I totally agree with the 'fun' part! I have 9 of the ten, and have 'sorta' been keeping an eye out for the last one to complete the collection: OBSV. I haven't made it a real priority, though. I'm sure I'll get the last one at some point.

I like some better than others. Probably the OBSK would be first place and OESV might be second.... different but very nice! All the ones I have are very well-made drams, for sure.

[GaryT]

I have 8 of the 10, and when I got my first 3, I did a blind tasting to see if I really could pick out the different recipes (all were OB, so just different yeasts). To my surprise, the general descriptions of them were pretty much spot on! Are they all like that? No. I have an OBSO and OESO, and would have expected the OESO to be sweeter with the extra corn and less rye. Not the case, but both are great pours!

I'm looking to complete the 10 (still missing OESK and OBSF), but am not bending over backwards to do so. At Christmas, a friend pointed me to a store in Michigan that had a private pick, and as luck would have it - it was the third recipe I was missing! Otherwise, I almost certainly would have passed on it (unless they offered me a taste first). I've passed on several since I already have the recipe, so I see it as arming me with another excuse to not buy bourbon I certainly don't need What I'm most impressed with thus far is that I have yet to buy a bottle and been disappointed (although one or two might have come close given the new price points, but for what I paid - zero remorse thus far!)

[Renegator]

At one point I had all 10 recipes open at the same time. A friend and I tasted all 10 blind and both picked OBSO as our favorite. Each time we did a blind tasting - we always ended up with OBSO as the favorite. Now I always grab a bottle of OBSO if I see one in a store. Having all 10 open at once took up too much space on the bar so I probably won't do that again. It did help me identify which ones I like better than others so I can be on the lookout for those. Right now I have OBSO, OESK, OBSK and OESO. Would like to pick up both of the V recipes if I see them.

[berto]

I was part of a group buy of all 10 recipes. Everybody got 2oz of each. I've since bought bottles of 5 of the recipes. Halfway there.

[mbroo5880i]

I know I have tried all 10 recipes. However, I have only purchased OBSK, OESK, OBSV, OESF, OBSQ. A few more than once. In general, my preference is for the "B" recipe along with the K,V and Q yeasts. I have found the F yeast recipes to be hit or miss. The most recent OESF that I had was really good. I haven't tried an O yeast recipe that I liked well enough to buy.

Based on my experience, I prefer the recipes in the following order (note, while I prefer the B recipes, my favorite is an E recipe): OESK>OBSK>OBSQ>OBSV>OESF>OBSF>OESQ>OESV>OBSO>OESO

I am not on a quest to own all 10 recipes. If I try a recipe and I like it, then I might buy it. I currently have an OESK, OSBK, OBSQ and OBSV in the cabinet. If I were going to buy another, I would probably buy the OBSQ currently available at my primary retail store. The bottle I have is about half full. I like this one well enough to put another in reserve.

[tanstaafl2]

I have kind of haphazardly acquired 8 of the 10 through various store and gift shop picks with OESQ and OESK the ones I am missing (I probably have tried those as well but not sure). Not sure I have a particular favorite as each has their own appeal on a particular day. The GBS OBSK is certainly a great one and so I probably need to add an OESK just to have for comparison. I also have a couple of pretty nice gift shop bottles of the OESF/OBSF variety including the OESF that was a kissing cousin of the 2014 SBLE.

I think it would be fun to have all 10 recipes from gift shop choices that presumably Mr. Rutledge had a hand in selecting but I currently only have 3 recipes not counting the SBLE bottles. Including the LE's I currently have 5 different recipes so still a way to go.

[kcgumbohead]

My quest for "the 10" occurred over years and purchases both near and far:

OBSV local A+

OBSO 4RGS A+

OBSF 4RGS A+

OBSK GBS A+

OBSQ 4RGS F

OESV local C

OESO GBS A

OESF 4RGS/distant source A+

OESK 4RGS B+

OESQ local B+

My experience with OBSQ is opposite of the comments I see posted by others with bottles from different barrels, years... so I may give that one another chance as its the only 4R I have ever had a strong objection to. I do taste similarities among different bottles of the same recipe. During our barrel pick sampling there were 2 recipes represented and the majority from each batch had similar DNA just to varying degrees but a couple of em, well I didn't like at all and couldn't have guessed what recipe they were from. I am of the opinion that "good" as subjective as that is, barrels from each recipe can vary but within a range that if you like that recipe the things you like will repeat in other bottles.of that same recipe If you get a "bad" one, then that recipe may not be your cup of tea or an outlier got into the wild. In either case approach with caution but give another chance another day. Thats my plan with the OBSQ after seeing so many positive reviews stating the complete opposite of what I experienced.

I now have several recipes I have identified as favorites and will accumulate over time as opportunities present. Its a hell of a lot of fun seeking out and tasting through these so to those on or considering the quest, highly recommended!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[suntour]

Yes, agree wholeheartedly. All the fun of the chase, all payoff.

[tanstaafl2]

For me the Q yeast, and perhaps to a lesser degree F, tend to be more "high risk, high reward". They seem fairly different from one another and from the other three to me. Always seems a good idea to try those first if possible before buying.

V, K and maybe to a lesser degree O share some similar fruit and spicy character to me and tend to be more consistently dependable.

My quest for "the 10" occurred over years and purchases both near and far:

OBSV local A+

OBSO 4RGS A+

OBSF 4RGS A+

OBSK GBS A+

OBSQ 4RGS F

OESV local C

OESO GBS A

OESF 4RGS/distant source A+

OESK 4RGS B+

OESQ local B+

My experience with OBSQ is opposite of the comments I see posted by others with bottles from different barrels, years... so I may give that one another chance as its the only 4R I have ever had a strong objection to. I do taste similarities among different bottles of the same recipe. During our barrel pick sampling there were 2 recipes represented and the majority from each batch had similar DNA just to varying degrees but a couple of em, well I didn't like at all and couldn't have guessed what recipe they were from. I am of the opinion that "good" as subjective as that is, barrels from each recipe can vary but within a range that if you like that recipe the things you like will repeat in other bottles.of that same recipe If you get a "bad" one, then that recipe may not be your cup of tea or an outlier got into the wild. In either case approach with caution but give another chance another day. Thats my plan with the OBSQ after seeing so many positive reviews stating the complete opposite of what I experienced.

I now have several recipes I have identified as favorites and will accumulate over time as opportunities present. Its a hell of a lot of fun seeking out and tasting through these so to those on or considering the quest, highly recommended!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[flahute]

Count me among those that is generally attempting to acquire all 10. I currently have 6 or 7 of them. I can't recall offhand all the ones I'm missing but I do know that OBSV is one of them, which I'm not in a hurry to get for obvious reasons, the other which I'm really after is OESV, which I tried once and loved. Of the ones I do have, favorites have been OESK, OESQ and a 12yr OBSK.

So many options and so many variations from barrel to barrel even among the same recipe so this will be an ongoing quest that will always be fun......and tasty.

[Hop]

I currently have:

OESK

OBSK

OESV

OESO

OESO

OESF

So I'm still in the hunt for the other 4

[suntour]

You know it's bad when you buy one not knowing the recipe and grill the store owner about their return policy because you know Four Roses will get back to you about its provenance in a matter of days...there was just the one on the shelf...this quest isn't bringing out my best attributes. Anyway I find it kind of annoying when the picker chooses to leave off the recipe and age.

Still need OESF, OESV, OESK, OESO, and OBSO. Half way home.

[suntour]

Bump.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

[jakerthesnaker79]

Currently have:

OBSO

OESK

OBSF

OBSQ

OESQ

Need the other 5 - really interested to get into the Vs.

[5cents]

I just finished aquiring the tenth for the set. I haven't opened any of them yet. I am not there yet in my journey.

[GaryT]

I have since completed my 10, although I haven't yet opened/samples the last couple bottles (on my "to do" list!)

[flahute]

I'll be visiting the gift shop next week. With any luck, they'll be well stocked and I'll be able to complete my set.

[The Black Tot]

I've totally lost track. I have the feeling I'm missing maybe two recipes.

Every bottle has been opened for a taste. Some of them put me off, some of them are marvellous.

But I think it's almost a futile endeavor...even when I find a bottle that turns me off, I believe that there's another pick out there of the same recipe that I'll like.

The ten recipes are already a big job, when you factor the picking range within the recipes, the task just kind of goes supernova...

So far though, Mrs Tot and I have had great luck with OESOs. Also, we had a pretty high success rate with the Spec's picks from last fall. I think their selection team lines up with my taste preferences very well. They're a frustrating bunch to deal with, but I can't deny I like their picking decisions.

[suntour]

I had a similar thought tonight. It's kind of ridiculous. honestly even the ten recipes just in sample size is kinds daunting. All I know is I like them all now more than when I opened them, so I'm glad I did it and drank them instead of trophying them. Problem is now I'm gonna need replacements before I get to all ten...

[Richnimrod]

I totally agree with the 'fun' part! I have 9 of the ten, and have 'sorta' been keeping an eye out for the last one to complete the collection: OBSV. I haven't made it a real priority, though. I'm sure I'll get the last one at some point.

I like some better than others. Probably the OBSK would be first place and OESV might be second.... different but very nice! All the ones I have are very well-made drams, for sure.

UPDATE (if anybody but me is interested)....

Having completed the collection (Thanx, Gary!), and tasted 'em all I have arrived at a conclusion.....

I like Four Roses Recipes. I've done several side-by-sides and even a couple SBSBS, and come to another conclusion; different ones are on top of my preference list on different days!

The ONLY one that seems to always finish #1 or #2 is OBSK. The others are variable from experience to experience. Go Figure.....

[bourbonfoot]

I don't think I have all 10 now, but I might have at some point? Right now I have two OBSV, 3 OBSO, OBSQ, OESQ, OESF, OBSF, OESK for sure. I had a bottle coming a few years ago that I thought was gonna complete all ten, and it was a different recipe than on the store sight :hot:. My favorites have been the OESQ (which was purchased in Tennessee and I'm told was the first private barrel ever selected) and an OBSV spice bomb that I got in MD. My least favorite was the OESF that was purchased from a store in CA. All are great pours though.

[GaryT]

UPDATE (if anybody but me is interested)....

Having completed the collection (Thanx, Gary!), and tasted 'em all I have arrived at a conclusion.....

I like Four Roses Recipes. I've done several side-by-sides and even a couple SBSBS, and come to another conclusion; different ones are on top of my preference list on different days!

The ONLY one that seems to always finish #1 or #2 is OBSK. The others are variable from experience to experience. Go Figure.....