Four roses single barrel store select

[Birdie1212]

I have not had any four roses single barrel before, but from reading here it seems like a very popular choice.

A local store in my area just got in all 10, i think its 10, recipes and have them all priced at $49.95 , is that a good price, I have not seen it around much so I don't know if that is a "grab all you can" kind of price, or more of a "normal" price.

I am in Colorado if that makes any difference.

[amg]

That's a good price. It's been creeping up lately.

[Richnimrod]

$50 is a VERY good price for 4-R barrel Picked Bourbons!     Remember these are Barrel Proof!  

This might be a great chance to fill a small 4-R 'Bunker' and taste all the recipes to see which ones hit you best.    Personally I like the higher rye mashbill with most of the yeasts; but the Q is so delicate the lower one seems better.    Then again, I haven't had all that many different bottles with the Q yeast.   I say: Have At  It!

[Harry in WashDC]

FWIW, the ten recipes of 4R barrelproof/cask strength/etc. around here (Washington DC), when we can find them, go for over $60 each sometimes, more likely $70 or so.  And, I have NEVER seen more than two of the ten recipes offered in the same store at the same time.

[Paddy]

A great opportunity at a great price! 

[Birdie1212]

So, I tend to like a fuller/sweeter profile on bourbon, which of the 10 recipes would deliver that, would that be one with higher corn and lower rye?

[Paddy]

High rye will add some additional spice.  Since you've never had 4R, I'd start out with tastings if available in this particular store.  If that's not possible, maybe one of the low and one of the high rye mash for comparison.  

My advice would be to find out very quickly, as those bottles may not hang around too long at that price!   

[jackthedog]

I personally find the OES_ versions to be a bit sweeter but that's just my experience. Great price! 

[DonutsNBourbon]

as jackthedog said, OES is probably what you're looking for.  Personally, I think OESO would best fit the bill, and is my favorite thus far of the 10 recipes.

[Josh]

IMHO, O & V yeast recipes are the most consistently good. K & Q are wildcards, but when they're good they're very very good. F is consistent but outside of the normal realm of Four Roses flavors. More mint and tarragon than flowers, fruit or spice.

And yes, that's a great price. 

[jeffrey r]

OP, are you absolutely sure that this store got in all 10 recipes of the barrel strength private selections?  That's great if true, but just seems odd considering that FR is tightening the supply of these releases.  In any case, as others have mentioned above, $50 is a great price for these barrel strength private selections.  That was the going rate a year or two ago, but most releases in my area are now $55-$70.

In any case, I would buy all 10 if it was me.  I think I have 7 out of 10 right now, and while each recipe is a bit different, and each barrel is a bit different, they are all good (usually very good), and well worth the price.  IMO, you really can't go wrong with OBSK and OESK, and OBSV and OESV.  Good luck and enjoy.

[O'DubhGhaill]

That is a phenomenal price!  I cannot find any Private Selection here for less than $75.  I just picked up a few bottles of OESK from K&L wines, coming out to about $71 each when computing in shipping.  I cannot imagine how your store managed to swing all 10 recipes, but I say go for it, one of each at that price!

[Charlutz]

I would contact the guy who runs www.redwhiteandbourbon.com. He is based out of Denver and well connected to all the stores. Seems like a nice guy and could help you not only with the profiles, but there's a chance he's tasted or will be able to taste the specific bottles and give you the benefit of whether a particular barrel is a good example of a particular recipe. There's also an article on his website reviewing all ten recipes. Good luck!

[petrel800]

I'd just make sure it is a barrel proof offering at $50.  As others have said, great price considering that 4R upped the price on the barrel strength about a year to a year and a half ago.  They are typically now in the $65 range now around here.  Maybe they got a discount for buying all 10.  I'd consider a few at this price even if I didn't get to try it first.  

The only reason I say that is because if it's just the standard 100 proof stuff in store selection form, I'd shop around.  $50 is pricey and more than I would shell out for a 100 proof store selection unless I got to try it first and even then, it would have to be an earth shattering selection for that much.

[Birdie1212]

I am heading to the store now to check out a couple of things, main one being, is this the barrel proof offering or are they all 100 proof, I will take pictures if they are the real deal.

[flahute]

If they are claiming all 10 recipes, they have to be barrel proof. Only OBSV gets bottled at 100 proof. Its possible they picked these barrels a long time ago and are just now getting them bottled. They may have gotten in at a cheaper price point before costs went up across the board. 

[Paddy]

^^^^That was my thinking, and is really the only logical explanation.  I found the same to be true at FL ABC earlier this year.  Those bottles had been filled in the fall of '14. 

Good luck!

[b1gcountry]

Like flahute said, if they state the recipe, them they are barrel proof. It is pretty easy to tell. If they have a gold neck wrap they are BP. If it is leather, then it's 100proof.

I actually like the packaging more on the 4rsb, but that is a story for another day

 

 

[meadeweber]

1 hour ago, Birdie1212 said:

I am heading to the store now to check out a couple of things, main one being, is this the barrel proof offering or are they all 100 proof, I will take pictures if they are the real deal.

I think you will find that they are the Single Barrel 100 proof.

Edited February 26, 2016 by meadeweber

[Birdie1212]

Ok.....they are the real deal, they are barrel proof, they have all the OBXX recipes left, plus one of the OEXX recipes,  according to the manager they got more of OB than the OE. I picked up a OBSV bottled at 115% proof to try and if I like it I will get more tomorrow.

And like flahute said they were all bottled late 2014 and were held until this brand new store opened up late last year.

As a side note there is another store with all 10 but they are priced at $65.

[tanstaafl2]

Would be interesting to know where and how they had been held for the past year or two. That is a pretty long time to just sit in the bottles after a pretty major cash investment. Hope they were all kept upright and out of the light! Presumably boxed up at least and somewhat protected.

[Richnimrod]

1 hour ago, Birdie1212 said:

Ok.....they are the real deal, they are barrel proof, they have all the OBXX recipes left, plus one of the OEXX recipes,  according to the manager they got more of OB than the OE. I picked up a OBSV bottled at 115% proof to try and if I like it I will get more tomorrow.

And like flahute said they were all bottled late 2014 and were held until this brand new store opened up late last year.

As a side note there is another store with all 10 but they are priced at $65.

So, you'll be offered some 'duplicate' recipes; but able to taste at least SOME of the ten different ones, yes?

[Birdie1212]

Most are still in sealed boxes with a few out to create a display, this store was opened I think around August of last year, so product could have been bottled late in 2014, held for a few months then shipped to the store.

[Birdie1212]

5 minutes ago, Richnimrod said:

So, you'll be offered some 'duplicate' recipes; but able to taste at least SOME of the ten different ones, yes?

Correct.......and if I really like one, and move quickly enough I can get a few put away as I doubt based on comments this is a price I will see again.

[Richnimrod]

3 hours ago, Birdie1212 said:

Correct.......and if I really like one, and move quickly enough I can get a few put away as I doubt based on comments this is a price I will see again.

Ahhh, you are a wise and careful consumer, young Skywalker' .    May the force be with your selections.    Good Luck!