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Writer's pictureBarrel Brothers

Review #45 Four Roses Small Batch Select

Updated: Feb 21, 2021

Distillery: Four Roses Distillery

Proof: 104

Age: NAS

Mashbill: 60% Corn, 35% Rye, and 5% Malted Barley


BACKGROUND: Four Roses is a whiskey distillery based out of Lawrenceburg, KY. They have a huge and incredible whiskey portfolio and are poised to be the next distillery to be acquired by one of the conglomerates. Four Roses Small Batch Select premium small batch Bourbon that uses a blend of Four Roses ten different mashbills. Each of the bourbons on their own were aged from 6-7 years and the Small Batch Select uses two additional mashbills than the regular small batch.


NOSE: Small Batch Select has the iconic Four Roses sweet and fruity nose. Behind the floral and fruity notes were deep cinnamon, oak, and creme bruleé. The notes are all very rich, developed, and balanced. (23/25)


PALATE: Up front the whiskey is spicy and rich but then formulates into a chewy creamy vanilla, tobacco, dried fruit, and oak. Like the nose the flavors are all rich and well balanced. The proof is excellent on this one and gives the whiskey a more full feeling than the regular Small Batch or regular Single Barrel by Four Roses. (32/40)


FINISH: The finish is on the dry side and medium in length with a strong rye spice flavor that is accompanies by dry oak, chewy leather, and burnt caramel. (21/25)


VALUE: Small Batch Select has a $55 SRP which is a great value and price for this whiskey. We would pay up to $60. (7/10)


Overall: 83/100


FINAL THOUGHTS: Four Roses Small Batch Select is a great addition to the Four Roses portfolio. It is absolutely better than their regular Small Batch and providing consistently tasty whiskey. The proof is slightly higher which adds another element like Weller Antique 107 does for Weller Special Reserve. This is a bottle we would recommend as a daily drinker.


Similar & Slightly Better Whiskey: Old Weller Antique 107

Similar & Equal Whiskey: Milam & Greene Triple Cask

Similar & Slightly Worse Whiskey: Traverse City Bourbon


Tell us what you think and give us some feedback!

Scoring Legend:

96-100: The perfect dram, juice of the gods

90-95: Near perfect, truly incredible whiskey

85-89: Amazing whiskey, will always try to keep a backup bottle of this

80-84: Very good, some minor flaws here or there

75-79: Good, quite enjoyable to drink, Will try and keep a bottle on the shelf

70-74: Solid, wouldn’t go out of my way to get this

60-69: Decent, would offer this up to non whiskey drinkers

50-59: Not my cup of tea

Below 50: Give away

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