Of the 10/14 Four Roses Receipies Discussed in That Thread - Which are your Top Three

[johnnyflake45]

For those of you who have had the time and accessibility, to the various bottles, which are your top three receipies?

1st

2nd

3rd

[Phil T]

1st and 2nd are a tie. Depends on what I'm drinking at that time....OBSV, OBSK

3RD....OESO

(I'm also a standard FRSB ho)

[ramblinman]

I'm a sucker for K, so OBSK and OESK for my top two, after that I've enjoyed all I've had but those two recipes are both amazing to me.

[flahute]

Here is the collective answer to your question:

http://www.straightbourbon.com/forums/showthread.php?22627-Pick-your-favorite-Four-Roses-Single-Barrel-recipe

[Harry in WashDC]

Is like picking which of my children is my favorite.

[johnnyflake45]

Here is the collective answer to your question:

http://www.straightbourbon.com/forums/showthread.php?22627-Pick-your-favorite-Four-Roses-Single-Barrel-recipe

Thanks for the heads-up!

[mbroo5880i]

Sometimes you run across a superior barrel of a recipe you might rank lower. I believe my favorites would be OBSK, OESK, then OBSV. However, I recently (within the last year) had a bottle of OBSQ that I would rate among the best that I ever had, regardless of recipe.

[johnnyflake45]

Sometimes you run across a superior barrel of a recipe you might rank lower. I believe my favorites would be OBSK, OESK, then OBSV. However, I recently (within the last year) had a bottle of OBSQ that I would rate among the best that I ever had, regardless of recipe.

How does one go about trying to acquire a bottle from one of those barrels?

[mbroo5880i]

A lot of it is luck. Primarily, that a local retailer ended up selecting a barrel that you really like. I wish I would have bought a few more bottles of the OBSQ! The same with an OESK that I got a few years back from TPS. It was really awesome. I have had other OESK barrels but I haven't found one that matched the one from TPS. Don't get me wrong though, I haven't met a bottle of OESK or OBSQ that I didn't find really good!

I have noticed similar scenarios with single barrels of Eagle Rare. I once had bottles of two barrels of Eagle Rare that were stored side-by-side in the same rickhouse. They were very different in flavor. One was more oaky while the other was sweeter. Both within the Eagle Rare profile but noticeably different.

[flaminiom]

The best recipe is the one your store has stocked.

[garbanzobean]

I've located some informative internet sites that might help with your purchasing decision: try here, here, here, and here.

[amg]

I've had two different OBSFs now, and one was all heat and mint, and the other was nicely balanced. Really comes down to the barrel.

[kcgumbohead]

Barrel selection is essential regardless of distillery, warehouse, phase of the moon... not all barrels are destined to grow up and be bottled as outstanding single-barrels even sharing a bunk in the rickhouse with a superstar is no guarantee as that next barrel over could be a dud ( in SB terms).

That said, the best case scenario would be that you can sample prior to purchase. The 4RGS has most of the 10 in stock and that was not the case in the past it was 1 or 2 maybe. Given your location I am guessing local stores may have one or more recipes in as store picks and as such you should be able to sample as the cost of the private select barrel proofers is on a pretty aggressive march upward based on all the recent intel.

FWIW here are my 4RSB (barrel proof) favs in no particular order:

OBSO, OBSK, OBSV,OBSF, OESF, OESO Thats 6 I know, guess I could have replied twice LOL!! The reason for not ranking 1,2,3... is that they are all IMO equal. Its all about what I might be in the mood for, fruit, chocolate, spice, cream....just the tip of the 4R iceberg. Trying them and discovering what you like is an interesting and fun journey, enjoy it!!