One of the reasons I love Four Roses Barrel Strength Single Barrels so much is the transparency, the amount of information that is included on each bottle and of course the sights, smells and taste of the bourbon itself! The bottle I am going to review is one of the ten bourbon recipes that is produced at Four Roses Distillery. Four Roses uses five different yeast strains and two different mash bills to produce the 10 unique recipes. Four Roses OESO is comprised of the E mash bill (75% corn, 20% rye and 5% malted barley) and the O yeast strain (rich fruit notes of fresh berries and cherries). The higher amount of corn sweetness paired with the rich fruit notes of the O yeast strain makes this recipe a fan favorite and hard to find. Most bourbon fans will debate between OESO and OESV being their favorite of the Four Roses recipes.
As popular as the OESO recipe is with fans, it has only been blended into the annual Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch twice (2009 and 2016). This could be due to a supply issue as OESO is used in the standard Four Roses Bourbon and Four Roses Small Batch (15% volume in this release). Master Distiller Brent Elliot has a tough job trying to keep the standard lineup of bottles on the liquor store shelves in the mist of a huge bourbon boom, having some barrels set aside for the single barrel program and making the best Limited Edition blends he can.
This barrel was picked by Cox’s and Evergreens, an employee owned chain of stores in the Louisville, Kentucky area. They pick numerous barrels from distilleries all over and they are always high quality. On the side label they list that this barrel was aged 11 years and 1 month, it is the OESO recipe and some general tasting notes of rich fruit. The small label on the bottom front of the bottle tells us that this barrel is 53.5% ABV (107 proof), it aged on the North (N) side of Four Roses warehouse P and it was in position #3 (C) on the first tier. I would expect a very approachable bourbon being this old, with a lower proof and being aged on the bottom tier of the warehouse. Lets go!
Four Roses OESO Bourbon Single Barrel 11 year 1 month 53.5% PN 33-1C
I purchased this bottle for around $75 in 2019. Since then MSRP seems to have increased and these single barrels store picks are normally around $90 out the door. I pour neat in a glencairn and let rest for ~10 minutes.
Color – Copper
Aroma – I am not getting much on the nose. Very flat. Light oak. Disappointing for an OESO as I expect more fruit.
Taste – Tons of sweetness, I get the classic O berries, fresh cherries but mainly red raspberries.
Finish – Moderately long finish, it warms your chest and is nice and refreshing.
Rating – 8/10
Four Roses OESO is without a doubt the most sought after recipe for a few different reasons. The classic berries flavors and sweetness agree with many bourbon lovers palates. Also throughout 2020 and 2021 Four Roses didn’t release many single barrels of OESO causing a short supply. The OESO recipe is mainly used in the standard Four Roses Yellow Label bottle and the Four Roses Small Batch. With the bourbon boom of recent years supply of the standard releases have needed to be increased further shortening supply of OESO for single barrel releases.
With all of that said this barrel falls short of my very high expectations. I was expecting a lot with the higher age statement. Not much on the nose, my palate was pleased with sweetness and a hint of berries but nothing special. This shows that a high age statement and desirable mash bill or yeast do not always give extraordinary results. Is this good? Oh yea, but not as good as some of the other Four Roses single barrel cask strength offerings I have tasted. I do strongly recommending finding an OESO if you haven’t had it and I will buy any OESO single barrel pick I come across!
1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out.
2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume by choice.
3 | Bad | Multiple flaws.
4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but better exists.
5 | Good | Good, just fine.
6 | Very Good | A cut above.
7 | Great | Well above average.
8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional.
9 | Incredible | An all time favorite.
10 | Perfect | Perfect
Debonair Gentlemen 
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