Four Roses Single Barrel Limited Edition 2011 Release
Barrel Strength Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Warehouse QN, Barrel No. 17-2E, Bottle 2779 of 3900, Recipe OBSQ
54.7% ABV/109.4 Proof
$90
Website
What the Distillery Says:
As the 2011 Single Barrel Limited Edition Release, we have once again selected an uncut and non-chill filtered Barrel Strength masterpiece. We present this exceptional, sophisticated 12-year old whiskey defined by a distinct aroma of fresh rose petals with notes of red apples, ripe pears and gentle nutmeg spiciness. Proof will range between 107.4 – 118.6.
Tasting Notes
Nose: Distinct fresh rose petal aroma with hints of red apples, ripe pears and gentle nutmeg spice.
Palate: Light cinnamon, sweet rye, pear and raspberry fruitiness.
Finish: Smooth, long and mellow with rich, creamy maple syrup flavor.
What Richard Says:
Nose: This one is a little too aggressive out of the bottle to get much off the nose. Water opens it up nicely. Big Red chewing gum comes to mind with a big blast of cinnamon. There is also a good bit of fresh baked yeast rolls and anise.
Palate: Lightly sweet, tart granny smith apples, cinnamon Eggo waffles, and a massive amount of oak.
Finish: Hershey’s cocoa powder, cinnamon, and oak.
Comments: I remember reading recently Master Distiller Jim Rutledge’s opinion against older bourbons, believing they are in their prime under 10 years of age. The more varied expressions of 10+ year Four Roses I have I think the reason may be that Mr. Rutledge’s bourbon seems to take on an inordinate amount of oak in older bottlings. This is just my personal opinion. This year’s release is nice and is a stand out dram but I think that there are better 12 year old bourbons out there. There are also a number 12 year olds available for a fraction of the price. Don’t get me wrong, this is good but compared to last year’s release it is a bit of a disappointment. I much prefer this year’s small batch limited edition release.
Rating: Stands Out