Four Roses Single Barrel

[F105PLT]

I have decided that Four Roses Single Barrel is my standard now for tasting.  I am fairly new to this game so I know there will be members who disagree and I will appreciate comments.  I became aware just this calendar year that there is a lot more to Bourbon that something to mix with some kind of soda.  With that awareness, I started collecting Bourbon and now have 25 different labels with Blanton's Single Barrel being my most expensive.  As a person of leisure (retired - 6 Saturdays and 1 Sunday) I have spent some time trying to line them up in some order.  It has been tricky but my favorite taste is the Four Roses Single Barrel and second is the Blanton's Single Barrel.  So far I have decided that Evan Williams Single Barrel, Buffalo Trace, Woodford Reserve are really good and especially so for the price.  This is certainly an interesting hobby and, with winter coming, it will fill in when it is too cold for the motorcycle.  I am going to Lexington in September and will have a lot of questions for Four Roses and Buffalo Trace.

[Thig]

Have you tried Henry McKenna 10yr BIB? It is a favorite of many and very well priced.

[Harry in WashDC]

RE: your new 4R SiB obsession - welcome to The Cult.  RE: Blanton's and Buffalo Trace - I'm pretty sure Sazerac makes them both at the BT distillery in Frankfort and that Blanton's comes from BT's Warehouse H which is metal-clad.  I read that someplace.  I'm also not surprised you like them.  Basic BT, to me, has a candy apple finish that I just love.  Blanton's is so smooth to me that I could drink it until I fall over; hence, I ALWAYS put the bottle away after I pour my standard 2 oz. for neat sipping.  It is also what I give to persons who ask, "What's this stuff called bourbon and why do you love it?"

 

All that said, my most-consumed is OGD BIB.  Next up probably is KC (all purchased when it was selling for $22  a 750).  After those, in no particular order, I swap in Larceny, OF 1897, Booker's, Booker's, and some not-really-sold-here's and some LEs I have picked up over the years.  I recently found a place selling WT Rye 101 liters so that will get added when the weather cools some.

 

EDIT - Just saw ANOTHER Josh post - yeah, Henry McKenna Single Barrel BIB, especially if I buy a bottle and like it; I go back and sort of shelf-clear for that barrel number.

Edited August 5, 2017 by Harry in WashDC

[Ravensfire]

Another card-carrying member of the cult - welcome! I'll second the above recommendations. Don't forget some of the lower shelf bottles. Try them on a bar, but those inexpensive BIB's can be tasty. A good store pick can also be a hidden gem. Local store did a KCSB that's fairly off the normal KC profile and was excellent. To your health - and years of enjoying the cult!

Sent from my SM-G900P using Tapatalk

[0895]

1 hour ago, F105PLT said:

I have decided that Four Roses Single Barrel is my standard now for tasting. 

 

Just wait until you start hunting and collecting all the different recipes and store picks... its good to be a 4R nerd.

[Kane]

1 hour ago, F105PLT said:

I have decided that Four Roses Single Barrel is my standard now for tasting.

 

Not a surprise development, also evidenced by the posts above After lots of time spent with the main lineup and LEs, I unfortunately found that most 4R products don't appeal to my tastes, especially the single barrel. Maybe I always had sub par barrels, or maybe I just don't like that much rye in my bourbon. Because of that I've never found it necessary to purchase one of the BP single barrel store picks, and it is actually a bit disturbing to think that I might be missing out on some of the best bourbon out there.

[Mako254]

On 8/5/2017 at 5:32 PM, 0895 said:

 

Just wait until you start hunting and collecting all the different recipes and store picks... its good to be a 4R nerd.

 

I've got 5 of the 10 and a line on 2 more. As a newly initiated 4R junkie, welcome. 

 

4R single barrel was the pour for me that really made put down cocktails and old faahioneds and juleps (which I still make and enjoy) and go to drinking neat on a daily basis. 

[EarthQuake]

I've had the standard Single Barrel which I didn't care for, and a store pick barrel proof OBSK at about 9 years that I found fantastic, now I'm curious to try more of the difference recipes.

[JoeTerp]

5 hours ago, Mako254 said:

 

I've got 5 of the 10 and a line on 2 more. As a newly initiated 4R junkie, welcome. 

 

4R single barrel was the pour for me that really made put down cocktails and old faahioneds and juleps (which I still make and enjoy) and go to drinking neat on a daily basis. 

It's a little nice for a cocktail, but 4RSB is really good in a cocktail too.

[JoeTerp]

2 hours ago, EarthQuake said:

I've had the standard Single Barrel which I didn't care for, and a store pick barrel proof OBSK at about 9 years that I found fantastic, now I'm curious to try more of the difference recipes.

I like the standard single barrel, but these private selections are way better (I've only had one that I didn't care for at all).

[F105PLT]

Last night I brought out the Mckenna BIB 10-Yr and tested against Four Roses Single Barrel.  The McKenna is good but I didn't think it as good as the 4RSB.  Going a step further, I brought out the Blanton's and again tested the taste against 4RSB.  This 4RSB has the deepest flavor and a great after taste, better than Blanton's and McKenna.  Now I am wondering it I just happened to luck into a special bottle from a single great "Single Barrel".  Today I am driving from Waynesville, NC to Buford, GA to visit the Mall of Georgia.  On the way I am going to stop at the Georgia Liquor Stores to check for a different 4RSB bottle and to see if they have Willitts Reserve.

[smokinjoe]

There are a handful of good liquor stores near where you're going.  Cork and Keg in Braselton usually has a very good selection, including PS 4R.  

[kevinbrink]

I will say not every 4R PS SB is a gem I have an 11 yr 6 month OBSQ open at the moment that I wish I left on the shelf. 

[CardsandBourbon]

I had a pour of 4R PS BP SiB last night while grilling the steaks.  4R SB and SiB are some of my go to pours.

[Mako254]

3 hours ago, smokinjoe said:

There are a handful of good liquor stores near where you're going.  Cork and Keg in Braselton usually has a very good selection, including PS 4R.  

Exit 129 in Ga. Cork and Keg has a private barrel of 4 roses. OBSF. They also have some COl E H Taylor, BiB and Col E H Taylor straight rye. They also have eagle rare 10 year. I was in the shop friday night. 

 

I really like the OBSF and always enjoy Col E H Taylor BIB. 

[PaulO]

2 hours ago, kevinbrink said:

I will say not every 4R PS SB is a gem I have an 11 yr 6 month OBSQ open at the moment that I wish I left on the shelf. 

That's more or less my experience too.  I've had a couple different PS SB.  They were ok, but not something I needed to run back and get more @ $50+.  

On the other hand, I've discovered I really like the three standard 4R brands.  My last Single Barrel came from warehouse SN - and was excellent.   

[kevinbrink]

12 minutes ago, PaulO said:

That's more or less my experience too.  I've had a couple different PS SB.  They were ok, but not something I needed to run back and get more @ $50+.  

On the other hand, I've discovered I really like the three standard 4R brands.  My last Single Barrel came from warehouse SN - and was excellent.   

I've had some stellar ones as well, and more good than bad, but they aren't universally good. As with any store pick, it's good to have some experience with the stores picks or a chance to try them (not a thing we can do in NJ).

[Richnimrod]

Just now, kevinbrink said:

I've had some stellar ones as well, and more good than bad, but they aren't universally good. As with any store pick, it's good to have some experience with the stores picks or a chance to try them (not a thing we can do in NJ).

^^^^ This. 

Same situation in 'The Mitten State', though my favorite retailer (virtually only one any more) will generally open up one of his 'picked' bottles and keep it under the counter for trusted loyal customers to 'try before you buy'.    Most of his recent picks, I've helped select the barrels, so I usually don't need that extra care; but I've recommended a few others to try 'em and use my name when asking.    Back when I shopped around more, I noted a couple retailers with whom my taste buddies generally disagreed, and didn't partake of their barrel pix for that reason. 

In my meager experience, some picking retailers often try explicitly not to stray too far from the usual profile of the brand.    To me that's just wasting a barrel pick; but the guy has to be able to sell whatever he contracts for, so I do understand the concept.

[DCFan]

For those traveling to Virginia there is a recently released Four Roses Va private select single barrel currently for sale at $45. It's designated as limited time on the website and it doesn't say which variation it is.

[kevinbrink]

4 minutes ago, DCFan said:

For those traveling to Virginia there is a recently released Four Roses Va private select single barrel currently for sale at $45. It's designated as limited time on the website and it doesn't say which variation it is.

Nice, if that is a barrel strength private select that is a hell of a deal.

[F105PLT]

Today I drove to Buford, GA, on the east side of Atlanta and went to a place called the Beverage Superstore.  They have a good stock of bourbon and the prices are good.  I bought a bottle of Bib and Tucker for $49.99 based on the recommendation of the manager when I told him my favorite was Four Roses Single Barrel.  I also bought another bottle of 4RSB for $39.99 which is about $12 cheaper than the same bottle in North Carolina.  When I got home I compared the B&T to 4RSB and still like the 4R much better as it has a much deeper flavor and after taste.  I next compared my old bottle of 4RSB with the new bottle of 4RSB and, to me they were identical.  So, at the moment my favorite Bourbon is 4RSB.  While at the Beverage Superstore I bought two bottles of Willett's for $36.99 - $7 per bottle less than I pay in North Carolina.  It is too bad that Bufford is so far a drive.

[JoeTerp]

7 hours ago, kevinbrink said:

Nice, if that is a barrel strength private select that is a hell of a deal.

It's not. It's the standard OBSV at 100 proof. The got two different barrels and both are age stated at 8 years. I bought a bottle but haven't tried it yet. They also didn't select the barrel themselves just had four roses send it to them. I think best case is this is a slightly older standard 4RSB. 

[graftonbc1]

I have to agree that the Four Roses SB standard is a wonderful pour. It is always delicious and smooth, and I do find something interestingly new in it each time I sip some. I am headed down to Biloxi, MS this Saturday for some R and R. I understand there is a very good liquor store there that sells several different recipes of Four Roses at barrel strength. I am hoping to score a couple while I am there.

 

Ray