Four Roses Limited Edition Single Barrel goes the way of the Dodo!

[tanstaafl2]

At least for now. According to Fred Minnick's blog, the FRLESB is the latest casualty of the bourbon boom. The 2014 will be the last of its breed.

Except when it isn't! Apparently special "commemorative" bottlings (Think the recent Secretariat bottling) will apparently still occur. Presumably less often than once a year!

I suppose we can continue to take solace in the fact that, for the moment, the Limited Edition Small Batch will continue on.

Oh well, one less thing to chase...

[jwacky]

I'd just as rather see more of the private selection single barrels, anyway.

[Paddy]

If they are unable to keep meeting expectations for this release, I am ok with this.

I'd much rather them admit that they can't, than see them release a substandard imitation of what we have come to expect.

It costs too much and is to darn hard to hunt 'em down, especially if they aren't up to snuff. I appreciate their honesty.

[danz]

I thought their stocks were the same as they had always been (tongue in cheek, having heard of this development a couple of months ago). My personal take was that even without any stock difficulties, it would be too hard to maintain consistency across a limited single barrel line, as opposed to a limited batched line, particularly enough consistency to match the prices these are now reaching. Just look at the questions around batch variation for the latest Parker's Heritage Wheat.

[Thig]

Doesn't really matter to me anyway because I could NEVER find one.

[Thig]

Maybe it's just sour grapes on my part but I wish they would stop all limited editions and just make what is available as good as it can be, not saying what's available isn't good already.

[gusto16]

Guess I'll have to take it easy on the remaining 2/3 bottle I have left of the 2014 release.

It's too bad that it's getting discontinued IMO.

[HD 335]

This is a bummer. I've been saving bottles and have my vertical from 2011 (first year I started to drink more bourbon) through 2014. 2015 was going to be the year I did a vertical tasting of all 5 years. Hope the small batch doesn't go the way of the Dodo!

Maybe it's just sour grapes on my part but I wish they would stop all limited editions and just make what is available as good as it can be, not saying what's available isn't good already.

I'm sure they try, but don't forget that barrel location in rickhouse plays an important part in the final profile of the product.

[garbanzobean]

Frankly, I'm a bit glad that they're choosing to discontinue (or at least slow down releases of) a product as opposed to releasing a subpar one. I like the Small Batch LE better anyway . . . Actually, I'd like a non-LE Small Batch at cask strength just as much, probably.

[danz]

Indeed, a barrel proof unfiltered small batch at a reasonable price would be great. Or even 50% unfiltered would be very nice. Is that too sensible, though?

[smokinjoe]

I like the Small Batch LE better anyway . . .

^^^+1.

Me, too. I buy "an" SBLE each year, just cuz I want to try it. It may be Nirvana in a bottle, or the recipe might not strike me right. Never know. In contrast, I scoop every bottle of the SmB LEs that I see, because JR's mingling genius really shows with these, and has since the Mariage days.

[kjbeggs]

Another one bites the dust. At least the small batch will continue (for the time being anyway), and as others said, when they do a special release, it should be really great stuff. Of course, price will probably rise significantly.

[P&MLiquorsEric]

At least for now. According to Fred Minnick's blog, the FRLESB is the latest casualty of the bourbon boom. The 2014 will be the last of its breed.

Except when it isn't! Apparently special "commemorative" bottlings (Think the recent Secretariat bottling) will apparently still occur. Presumably less often than once a year!

I suppose we can continue to take solace in the fact that, for the moment, the Limited Edition Small Batch will continue on.

Oh well, one less thing to chase...

[BigRich]

^^^+1.

Me, too. I buy "an" SBLE each year, just cuz I want to try it. It may be Nirvana in a bottle, or the recipe might not strike me right. Never know. In contrast, I scoop every bottle of the SmB LEs that I see, because JR's mingling genius really shows with these, and has since the Mariage days.

[jvd99]

That stinks!! I really enjoy these every year and I've bunkered quite a few which looks a good move now. I've been trying to complete a full set of these, I only need the 2009 and 2010. I've posted pleas for assistance with my OCD quest (they just don't look right missing 2 years in the sequence ) in the help a member find a bottle thread, but those posts just get gobbled up and forgotten. If you can help me find my unicorns, let me know. The whole family really needs to be together!

Really hoping the store select program doesn't follow suit

[The Good Sir]

I might be the minority, but I'm not upset by this. I've always found it to be a bit ridiculous to pay $100 for a bottle of LE when you can pay $55 of the same recipe that's just a year or so younger. Now if the SmB LE goes away, I'm rioting.

[petrel800]

Not as concerned about the loss of the release as I am the current state of 4 Roses stocks. Rutledge seemed concerned during our visit last year about the rate at which they were running through their stocks and seemed to indicate that the bean counters were really pushing to maximize the current bourbon climate. Look at their selection programs, they went from no where to every where over night. Then take into account that the oldest stuff in the SmB this year was around 12 years old and I think you're seeing where 4 Roses is from an ageing standpoint. Add in the recent price hikes on the Barrel Strength offerings and shut down of the Single Barrel selections and you're getting a good picture here.

Personally, I would have rather seen conservative price increases and a more conservative approach to getting stock out over time than the 0 to 100 approach they took, but I get it, they've got to maximize the current climate. I don't blame them for that, at the end of the day, it's a hobby to us, for them, it's business.

As a final note, lets pray they don't get into the flavored whiskey market as it would be a shame for additional stocks of 4R stuff to get wasted on that garbage.

Edited January 23, 2015 by petrel800

[Kyjd75]

As a final note, lets pray they don't get into the flavored whiskey market as it would be a shame for additional stocks of 4R stuff to get wasted on that garbage.

[KyleCBreese]

I don't think anyone should be worried about the private selections going away. I saw that Four Roses tweeted a picture of them building a new private selections room. I don't think they would go through that, only to cut the program.

[petrel800]

As long as JR is there, I can't imagine that happening.

[petrel800]

I don't think anyone should be worried about the private selections going away. I saw that Four Roses tweeted a picture of them building a new private selections room. I don't think they would go through that, only to cut the program.

[KyleCBreese]

How many barrels were used for the 2014 LE SB? 3-5? It seems odd that they would end something that showcases their talents so well, for such a small amount of barrels.

[petrel800]

How many barrels were used for the 2014 LE SB? 3-5? It seems odd that they would end something that showcases their talents so well, for such a small amount of barrels.

[Kyjd75]

And remember, these are the same people who won't let him make a rye whiskey!

[KyleCBreese]

Everything I read said there were about 5000 bottles released for the '14 LESB. I didn't see a barrel total, but figuring that yields will probably be around 120-150 bottles a barrel at barrel strength, you can kind of back into a guess.