Four Roses 2025 Small Batch Limited Edition
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
54.5% ABV
$250
Website
We would like to thank Four Roses and The Brand Guild for sending us a sample to review.
What the Distillery Says
August 19, 2025 Four Roses Distillery announced the release of its highly anticipated 2025 Limited Edition Small Batch Bourbon, a standout expression from the award-winning Kentucky bourbon maker, releasing September 3rd, 2025. This marks the 18th edition in the annual series, featuring a unique blend of three bourbon recipes and four different batches, bottled at barrel strength.
Non-chill filtered and bottled at 109 proof, the 2025 Limited Edition Small Batch Bourbon features four hand-selected batches aged 13 and 19 years. Chosen from Four Roses’ 10 distinct bourbon recipes, this year’s limited edition blend is composed of a 13-year-old bourbon from the OBSV recipe, a 13-year-old OBSK, a 13-year-old OESV,
and a 19-year-old OESV.
“Year after year, we look to create a unique expression that highlights the best of what our ten recipes can offer,” said Brent Elliott, Four Roses Master Distiller. “When blending this year’s release, I was drawn to the 13-year-old V batches that showcase pronounced delicate fruit and sweet barrel tones. Although these barrels can really shine on their own, the OBSK brought in a complexity that I think people will really enjoy. The addition of the 19-year-old OBSV also adds another layer of depth and aged character that rounds out the blend beautifully.”
The recipes selected for the 2025 Limited Edition Small Batch result in notes of sweet apricot, vanilla, caramel, black tea leaves, hints of rye, and mellow oak on the nose, followed by flavors of apricot, hints of citrus, crème brûlée, and antique spiced oak on the palate, with those same flavors lingering in a very soft and long finish.
This year, Four Roses will release approximately 16,854 bottles of its 2025 Limited Edition Small Batch at a suggested retail price of $249. They will be available at select retailers nationwide and through the distillery’s bottle drawing, which will accept entries from August 19 to 24, 2025. Winners of the bottle drawing will be selected at random and notified on August 29, 2025 for a chance to purchase and pick up their bottle at the Distillery Visitor Center in Lawrenceburg, KY, in September. Visitors to the Four Roses Distillery can also enjoy a pour at Bar 1888 in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, while supplies last.
For more information on Four Roses Distillery and the 2025 Limited Edition Small Batch release, please visit www.fourrosesbourbon.com, or follow on Instagram @fourrosesbourbon.
Recipes:
OBSV – 13 Years Old
OBSK – 13 Years Old
OESV – 13 Years Old
OESV – 19 Years Old
What Gary Says
Nose: Vanilla, caramel, apricot, raw honey, orange zest, oak, mint, thyme, hints of cinnamon, clove, leather and tobacco.
Palate: Creamy mouthfeel with caramel, blood orange, vanilla, apricot, oak, chocolate, honey, cinnamon and nutmeg.
Finish: Long and drying with caramel, oak and citrus spice notes.
Comments: This is classic Four Roses – balanced, nuanced, complex and lovely. I’ve yet to try a Four Roses Small Batch LE that I didn’t REALLY like. Interesting enough I don’t care for older bourbons, as I’m not a big fan of heavy oak, but while there is oak for sure it is quite deft – no doubt a tribute to the single-story rickhouse maturation. This is quite lovely, and sips like a champ neat – but I found with a few drops of water and a few minutes in the glass – I was rewarded with baked apples on the nose, and the chocolate stepping forward more on the palate. All in all another really lovely bourbon!
Rating: Must Try
