Four Roses Small Batch Select In-Depth Review

Which Recipes Are In Four Roses Small Batch Select?

When Four Roses Small Batch Select was introduced in 2019 it was proclaimed as the fourth rose. Four Roses Distillery already offered three standard non-allocated bottles: Four Roses, Four Roses Small Batch and Four Roses Single Barrel 100 Proof. This was the first label extension Four Roses had introduced in 13 years! Four Roses Small Batch Select offers the highest proof of the four bottlings at 104 proof, has a minimum age of 6 year old bourbon, is non-chill filtered and has six of the ten Four Roses recipes blended into it (OESV, OBSV, OESK, OBSK, OESF, OBSF).

The V and K recipes are the most heavily used recipes in Four Roses blends and Limited Edition bottlings, but the F recipes are a curveball for the Small Batch Select. The V yeast adds notes of light fruit and can help produce a rich, creamy mouthfeel. Baking spices (pepper, cinnamon, clove, allspice) are a common flavor produced from the K yeast. Both V and K are classic bourbon flavors enjoyed by most bourbon fans.

The F yeast is a bit more controversial. It isn’t used as much in the Limited Edition blends and produces a herbal, earthy and minty flavor profile. I have had some amazing F recipe single barrel barrel strength but some of the notes can be off putting at times, at least for my palate. This bottle should have a nice blend of V, K and F aromas and tasting notes.

What Is The Difference Between Four Roses Small Batch and Four Roses Small Batch Select?

In theory, Four Roses Small Batch Select is the bigger, bolder and premium version of the Four Roses Small Batch. Below is a quick comparison of the two bottles.

	Four Roses Small Batch	Four Roses Small Batch Select
Recipes	OESO, OBSO, OESK, OBSK	OESV, OBSV, OESK, OBSK, OESF, OBSF
Proof	90 Proof	104 Proof
Age	Minimum 6-7 Years Old	Minimum 6-7 Years Old
Chill Filtered	Chill Filtered	Non-Chill Filtered

    Four Roses has 10 different recipes at their disposal to blend bourbons and create unique flavor profiles. This is very unique to Four Roses as most other distilleries only can blend different barrels of the same mashbill together to create their small batch bourbons. Before Small Batch Select was released, the Four Roses Small Batch and Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch where the only other small batches bourbons the distillery offered. Each of the 10 unique Four Roses recipes are available individually in a barrel strength bottling. 

Where Can You Find Four Roses Small Batch Select?

I am very excited to jump in and review this bottle. Four Roses Small Batch Select is the most premium, non-allocated Four Roses offering that you can normally find on the shelf if you are in a state that gets distribution. At the time of this writing it is still not available in all 50 states but availability is continuously expanding. Check out the Four Roses website for more information on availability near you! Four Roses Small Batch Select MSRP is around $60. My review of the Four Roses Single Barrel 100 Proof set the bar fairly high for the Four Roses standard offerings. Let us see if this bottle can live up to the high expectations!

Four Roses Small Batch Select Review

I poured neat in a glencairn and let set for around 15 minutes. The glencairn is the preferred tasting glass of bourbon enthusiasts. If you would like to support the site and buy a pair on glencairns, follow the hyperlink!

Color – Dark brown/light amber. This is non-chill filtered and I do notice a tiny spec of barrel char or protein floating around. Non-chill filtered bottles are known to have both barrel char and a haziness (from proteins no filtered out) that can produce a creamier, thicker mouthfeel. Any bottle that gets me closer to drinking straight from the barrel I am a fan of.  

Aroma – As my nose approaches the glencairn, the baking spices are prominent. The K yeast is the easiest for me to pick out and it is very apparent.  I am very careful not to swirl my glen to avoid stirring up the alcohol. As I go back in for a second nose I get the F yeast notes of heavy leather and a light earthiness/mustiness. Those two flavor profiles are layered very nicely with a light oak intertwined. I find hints of sweetness but nothing sticks out. It could be from the corn or V yeast. Very little to no fruitiness on the nose.

Taste – My first taste the K baking spices explode on my palate and all throughout my mouth. There is a slight alcohol tingle but it is warming and welcoming. The mouthfeel is a bit thin but not surprising with a high rye, 104 proof bourbon. I am impressed by the amount of oak and rye on the palate as well. I expected a high rye flavor but the amount of oak is surprising for a minimum age of 6-7 years.

Finish – A delayed but strong finish for a 104 proof bourbon. It penetrates deep and is a nice warm Kentucky Hug. Light baking spices and a touch of mint sit on the palate and last a medium length of time for a finish. 

Rating – 6.6/10

Thoughts – This pour reminds me of an improvement on the Four Roses Small Batch. This bottle has more oak, the alcohol is less prominent (at a higher proof) and the flavors are on palate are superior. The Small Batch Select is much more mellow and less alcohol than the Four Roses Small Batch. Both noses are well balanced and layered with aromas from the different yeast strains in their respective blends. Is a bottle Four Roses Small Batch Select with a MSRP around $60 worth it? I would grab a Four Roses Single Barrel 100 Proof at $40 first. I believe the Single Barrel has more variability but can provide a superior bourbon to the Four Roses Small Batch Select at a cheaper price. They are two different experiences but for $20 less the Single Barrel is the way to go. I prefer my bourbon neat and would recommend this neat. I would consider putting this on ice or even mixing but with the $60 price tag I am hesitant to do either of those. Small Batch Select does offer the consumer a nice layered flavor profile that is unique.

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