The Four Roses Limited Edition bottling is my favorite release of the year! Master Distiller Brent Elliot blends a new and unique Limited Edition Small Batch annually and they are nothing short of outstanding. I think this really sets the Four Roses annual Limited Edition apart because Brent’s goal each year is something unique from previous releases and unobtainable anywhere else. Every year has its own personality and it’s something I look forward to each fall.
There are 10 different Four Roses recipes to choose from to blend together for this special offering. The 2022 Limited Edition was blended together using four different recipes, ranging from 14 to 20 years old! Recipes and percentages are as seen below.
2022 54.5%, 15,600 bottles released in the US (confirmed via Brent Elliot)
20% OESF 14 year
35% OESV 14 year
25% OESK 15 year
20% OBSV 20 year
2022 Limited Edition Recipe Breakdown
The V and K recipes are normal players in these special blends but what sticks out to me is the 20% OESF 14 year old bourbon. OESF has the low rye E mashbill (75% corn, 20% rye, 5% malted barley) and the F yeast that has herbal and earthy notes. The K, O, and V recipes are almost universally loved but the F’s are a bit more controversial. Some like them and some don’t, I think the F’s can produce outstanding bourbon.
When looking at the percentage breakdown, 80% of the blend is the low rye mashbill which should let the age and yeast notes shine! Sometimes the higher rye B mashbill (60% corn, 35% rye, 5% malted barley) can overpower the more subtle notes of a barrel. The V yeast recipes are 55% of the blend which should provide a rich creamy mouthfeel and notes of fruit. The K yeast in the OESK can provide an aroma and taste of baking spices. I am thrilled seeing a 20 year old OBSV in the blend as well!
Here are a few quotes from Brent about this years Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch.
“From the beginning of crafting this year’s limited edition small batch Bourbon, two particular batches stood out to me as potential candidates to go into the blend – a 14-year-old recipe batch that is remarkably smooth and rich on the palate, and a 20-year-old recipe batch that exhibits the best fruit barrel and spice qualities of extra aged Bourbon,” said Brent Elliott, Four Roses Master Distiller. “The test blends revolved around those two batches until we landed on a liquid with a perfect balance that is unique, layered, mellow and elegant.”
You can’t help but get excited after reading that! Well aged bourbon is extremely hard to come by and this bottle has a lot of well aged bourbon in it. MSRP this year has increased and is around $180 for a 750mL bottle. Let’s dive in and see what the Four Roses Small Batch Limited Edition 2022 has got!
Four Roses Limited Edition 2022 Review
I poured neat in a glencairn and let rest for around 10 minutes.
Color – This is a beautiful dark amber with hints of red. On the verge of a beautiful light mahogany.
Aroma – I get a deep musty oak at first complimented with worn in leather, hints of cinnamon, dark stone fruits like plum or a dark almost overripe berry. Not an intense nose but very mellow, no alcohol at all. There is a funkiness about this for sure.
Taste – I love the viscosity of this bourbon as it is smooth as silk. A touch of vanilla, brown sugar and caramel light up the front of the palate. There is a funky note there along with old aged oak and rye spice linger in the mid to back of the palate. Hints of worn leather and tobacco round out the sip.
Finish – A very soft beautiful finish. Slow forming that isn’t in your face or overdone. I’ve had longer or more intense finishes from other bourbons that are awesome. This isn’t that but it hits perfectly. Oak and baking spices linger on the palate. The taste of cinnamon hangs on the palate for a long time.
Ranting – 9.2/10
This was a tough bottle to choose a rating for. It is so different than the past few years of limited edition offerings but the more I go back to it, the more I enjoy it. At 109 proof, there was very little to no aroma or taste of alcohol, this is a mellowed out pour. Brent Elliot blended the 2022 LE together beautifully and the bourbons used were aged to perfection. Strong notes of oak, cinnamon, brown sugar, caramel and leather highlight this release for me.
I did not get as many fruit notes as I would have thought with this being around 55% blend of V recipes.
This years vintage has an awesome mouthfeel, exactly what I am looking for in a limited edition release. A different flavor profile than in past releases but just as enjoyable. Honestly, the ability to hone in on different flavors is one of the most enjoyable parts of yearly limited releases and with 10 recipes at their disposal Four Roses can do just that. Year in and year out this is a winner for me and this bottle fits in great, in its own unique way.
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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