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

[tanstaafl2]

I can't remember his exact statement during our selection last year, but it was along the lines of if it happens I'll no longer be here. That being said, it did appear that someone/someones up the corporate ladder had been pushing for them to enter that market.

I agree, I don't see it happening with JR there. Let's hope someone up the ladder doesn't put flavored whiskey sales above keeping around a bourbon legend who has brought the brand back from a blended joke to one of the most respected brands in the industry.

[petrel800]

So it could be anywhere from 33-42 barrels. I don't see how stopping the release of that many barrels is going to help a shortage.

Don't forget though, 33-42 barrels with age on them may equate to 5,000 LE SB offerings, but if aged stock is a major issue for them, it could severely effect their ability to keep the consistency of the regular small batch and yellow label. I don't know the exact formulas, but 33-42 barrels of aged stock may help blend tens of thousands of bottles of the regular label stuff. At the end of the day, the LE stuff is a showcase for their abilities, but it isn't keeping the electricity on, the employees paid and the stills running. That is the Yellow Label, regular small batch, . . .

[JDSmith619]

With the availability of private selection barrel picks, this isnt bothersome to me.

A local store here has ~11yr bottles for $38.99. Its a no brainer for me.

[Paddy]

With the availability of private selection barrel picks, this isnt bothersome to me.

A local store here has ~11yr bottles for $38.99. Its a no brainer for me.

I'd buy them all at that price. Standard SB is now over $30 here and the new BP's are in the $65 range.

[tanstaafl2]

With the availability of private selection barrel picks, this isnt bothersome to me.

A local store here has ~11yr bottles for $38.99. Its a no brainer for me.

Might become a bit more bothersome if private BP barrel picks also go away, or are severely reduced as seems likely in the future!

[garbanzobean]

Might become a bit more bothersome if private BP barrel picks also go away, or are severely reduced as seems likely in the future!

I wonder what they're going to do with that fancy barrel selection room they just finished and plastered all over social media, assuming the rampant concerns about properly aged stock are true.

BTW its hard not to make jokes about how if this were Buffalo Trace, they'd be discontinuing the yellow label and not the LE.

[GerryM]

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

+1, I could care less

[tanstaafl2]

I wonder what they're going to do with that fancy barrel selection room they just finished and plastered all over social media, assuming the rampant concerns about properly aged stock are true.

BTW its hard not to make jokes about how if this were Buffalo Trace, they'd be discontinuing the yellow label and not the LE.

Lots of stores prefer the OBSV 100 proof barrel picks over a cask strength pick. They no doubt make that more than any other recipe anyway so it takes some of the burden off the other recipes if barrel proof picks of less common recipes are decreased or even worse eliminated.

And I kind of liked picking in that dusty old building just down from the bottling line where the sweet smell of bourbon pretty much permeates everything! I don't need no stinkin' barrel selection room!

:cool:

[garbanzobean]

Yeah I don't think I need a fancy barrel selection room. Maybe a fancy nap room after said barrel selection.

[smokinjoe]

And I kind of liked picking in that dusty old building just down from the bottling line where the sweet smell of bourbon pretty much permeates everything! I don't need no stinkin' barrel selection room!:cool:

Wonder if new tasting room will have padded floor to cut down on breakage of watch glass covers from clods like us...

[Renegator]

Can't say I'm surprised but as long as they keep the SmBLE going - I'm a happy man.

[humchan2k]

I'm totally cool with this, gotta say. With the noticeable drop in age for even private barrel selections, I'm sorta glad that they're doing away with the SB LE. That leaves more options for blending that small batch release, which is always dynamite. I am still lamenting the fact that I never got a '13 SmB Ltd, that would've been nice.

The next time K&L does a good barrel pick, cask strength, I'm going big.

[The Advantage]

Jim Rutledge was a guest on Whiskeycast this weekend, and gave an interview on the subject, he gave some interesting notes. Here is how I remember it, hopefully it's accurate.

- Dropping the LE SB was due to the same reasons as mentioned in the Minnick blog post, and Rutledge confirmed 4R growth of 50% - 70% - 75% year over year in the past few years.

- Rutledge said if given the choice between discontinuing the LE Single Barrel and the Small Batch, he wanted to keep the Small Batch, said he "fought" for it.

- Basically said that dropping the LESB would only help keep the Private Barrel, Barrel Strength program going

- He said he hopes the LESB will be back, but admits that it will likely be another 4-5 years, and possibly as long as a decade before it returns

Full interview here.

http://whiskycast.com/episode-518-january-24-2015/

[The Boozer]

Couple of stores in the region due the 4R barrel strength program. Its nice, given that more recently Party Source always seems to be out. Need to pick up a few more bottles.

[MTNBourbon]

Heard about this a few weeks back. Here in Utah I was told they never get LE versions at all. Maybe one of these days I will get a chance to try the LEs of Small Batch and the Single Barrel before it runs out.

[Phil T]

The info provided in this thread provides good info as to things happening at Four Roses. But the info in Joe's thread, about the new bottling plant, I think is staggering.

40% of their aging stock went to Bulleit. So to capture that much more whiskey with the end of the contract is good for us, yes?

[garbanzobean]

The info provided in this thread provides good info as to things happening at Four Roses. But the info in Joe's thread, about the new bottling plant, I think is staggering.

40% of their aging stock went to Bulleit. So to capture that much more whiskey with the end of the contract is good for us, yes?

Very good! The article also stated they have a couple very special anniversaries coming up, and they wanted to be sure they had what they needed for them. So I think the year off will be good for us. Assuming I'm able to find a bottle of either release . . .