Give it 2-3 weeks and you're going to be blown away. This notoriously has one of the worst neck pours for me time and time again but I keep coming back to it over the SiB because of how well it opens up and transforms. Easily worth the extra $7-8 here in the US over the SiB.
This is true for SiB too imo. The neck pour is usually really lackluster, mostly floral and rye notes, but after some time oxidizing it starts to take on a delicious creamy, fruity vanilla flavor. Four Roses in general just needs time to shine
The non chill filtered gives a more mouth feel. It’s my favorite. I alway drink it with a splash to dilute it just under 50%. A great sipper. Cool Dixxon shirt by the way Stay classy
I just picked up a bottle of the single barrel based on this video. My local Costco had both the SB and the SBS. I thought about getting both and doing a comparison but decided to go with your recommendation and save the money for a bourbon I haven’t tried yet. So far on the SB, it’s nice. Sweet, not as punchy for a slightly higher Abv than the Blanton’s I purchased a few days ago. Delicious, cheers!
I'm glad you enjoyed! Always tricky recommending a single barrel as being "better" since every batch is naturally going to be more different than any blends but everyone I have had before has been very good. Cheers!
Big Four Roses fan, that being said I always thought the SB was the best bourbon for dollar out there, it was my "daily drinker" - affordable and excellent. That being said, I am currently on a run of drinking the SB Select, which I also love, but I have to say that I did not get the same reaction as you as a punchy, in-your-face taster. I agree with several other posters who recommend letting it calm down a bit and go back to it maybe in a month or so? Now, as to your shirt, I like it and love the "cowboy" attitude while enjoying bourbon - Texas approved!
Texas approved is about the biggest accolade going! I have a couple more shirts in a similar vibe on the way! As for the whiskey, I totally expect this to ease up with time, but I tried it again about a week after filming and it was still hot-as! Will re-visit it in a few weeks. Cheers bud!
I would NEVER judge or opine on a freshly opened bottle. Of course it will come across as tight & sharp because it hasn't had the benefit of oxygenation and evaporation. Half way through will be a completely different experience; smoother, richer & mellow. More flavors, less ethanol. Awaiting your return for part 2! Edit: The same principle applies to wine (air & evaporation), there's a reason why wine tastes better when it's been decanted 3-4 hours prior to tasting.
Completely fair - my reasoning for usually reviewing fresh bottles is to both give level footing to each bottle, and to also let viewers know what to expect when they first crack it open. But you're right it certainly will change, I'll be sure to do an update very soon! Cheers!
Yeah absolutely, if it opens up a bit and eases off on the heat with time then it could be a decent competitor in its price point but time will tell! Cheers!
I've yet to try any of the Four Roses Bourbons, I was going to bypass the standard yellow label version, leap frog the small batch and then go straight for the single barrel, judging from your review I think that I'll be doing just that ! A great honest review which is the very reason I keep coming back to you buddy, maybe the bottle will open up as it breaths over time but who wants to buy a £50 bottle of Bourbon only to have to grimace through the first couple of swallows just to get to the good stuff some months down the line ? Certainly not me !
Absolutely! I wouldn't totally ignore the original if its at a good price but the other two are definitely the stand-outs for me. The Single Barrel's I've had in the past have been my favourite but obviously no guarantee what you get in any new ones. Cheers!
Well i see this was three months ago so i hope you did just that. The garden variety and even the small batch is fpr price alone. They arent going to ruin your day but no flavor. The single barrel is great, one of the best values in bourbon, but i even like the small batch select more even with the higher price tag
Enjoying a standard small batch while watching this (which is very nice). I had the single barrel a while ago and I know all single barrels will generally be different but found that quite punchy, very nice all the same! Maybe a comparison between the 2 would be good.
Maybe two mashbills, but way more than two recipes. Small Batch Select is my fav of theirs, but I should do a blind with single barrel and Small Batch to see how it really stands up.
Great shout, I certainly will! And yes, I believe it's six recipes in total so it is a very complex blend. I'm going to have couple more pours out of it and leave it for a few months for it to find its feet and give it another go and comparison test. Cheers!
Sounds like a Rebel Cask str barrel pick that they can't sell here in PA... I bought two bottles months ago and I've yet to see another one sell at any of the 3-4 stores I pop in regularly at... they just sit. It's 122 proof (not 104)... but I'd describe it similarly... delicious but too hot (and I drink higher proof stuff regularly)... but it turns absolutely candy-delicious over ice. I've not bought this bottle yet... I've tried a couple of the Single Barrels and like them alright, but not my favorite bottle at the price... and I had the yellow label (I ordered the select, but Im almost positive they actually poured me the yellow label) at a bar and could barely drink it. I think the challenge this bottle may face is the Single barrels come in like 16 expressions and of course being single barrels, naturally vary some... so for the bourbon explorer who doesn't just want a bottle to buy and stick with it for the rest of their life; the single barrel offers a much more exciting offering... and if you want to buy something and stick with it... there's better bottles @ $60 than this.
Great summary there! I'll give this a go over ice as well once our weather picks up to see if it makes more sense that way. Hoping it will ease-up completely but time will tell. Cheers!
The fact that bourbon has no E150 doesn't mean that the appearance is irrelevant. In Scotch or Irish, darker colour might just mean (and all too often does) that there is more dye. Plenty of pale whiskies have way more flavour than darker ones. In bourbon, colour is all down to barrel influence.
Apologies, I wasn't very clear - I simply meant that commenting further on the colour when not in direct comparison with another dram was a bit redundant as it looked exactly as expected. Many others have commented that they love the Small Batch as well but struggled with this! Cheers!
I certainly will - I'm going to have a few pours out of it and then let it sit for a few months and then will re-visit and do some comparisons! I'm sure it will improve, but time will tell!
Disagree I like these both the single barrel and the select are great pours. Again everyone has their palate. I’d suggest you let it sit then go back to it it’s 4 proof points higher than the single barrel. And is it your first drink of the day? that could have a bit to do with it. Just saying.
Oh for sure, everyone is different and everything tastes a bit different at different times. On this video it was my first drink of the day as I try and do that with all videos for consistency - however, I tried it a week after filming when it wasn't my first and had a very similar experience, but I'd be surprised if this doesn't mellow with time so there will be a re-visit for sure!
Give it 2-3 weeks and you're going to be blown away. This notoriously has one of the worst neck pours for me time and time again but I keep coming back to it over the SiB because of how well it opens up and transforms. Easily worth the extra $7-8 here in the US over the SiB.
Good to know! I'll have a couple pours out of it and then let it sit for a while before re-visiting and doing some comparisons. Cheers!
100% It develops wonderfully.
This is true for SiB too imo. The neck pour is usually really lackluster, mostly floral and rye notes, but after some time oxidizing it starts to take on a delicious creamy, fruity vanilla flavor. Four Roses in general just needs time to shine
The small batch is one of my favorites ❤
SB is good and SBS is a more complex version of it. Definitely worth the $52 if you like a bolder, spicier flavor on the palate.
The non chill filtered gives a more mouth feel. It’s my favorite. I alway drink it with a splash to dilute it just under 50%. A great sipper.
Cool Dixxon shirt by the way
Stay classy
Haha I'm a sucker for a Dixxon shirt - I seem to have accidentally started a collection!
I just picked up a bottle of the single barrel based on this video. My local Costco had both the SB and the SBS. I thought about getting both and doing a comparison but decided to go with your recommendation and save the money for a bourbon I haven’t tried yet. So far on the SB, it’s nice. Sweet, not as punchy for a slightly higher Abv than the Blanton’s I purchased a few days ago. Delicious, cheers!
I'm glad you enjoyed! Always tricky recommending a single barrel as being "better" since every batch is naturally going to be more different than any blends but everyone I have had before has been very good. Cheers!
Big Four Roses fan, that being said I always thought the SB was the best bourbon for dollar out there, it was my "daily drinker" - affordable and excellent. That being said, I am currently on a run of drinking the SB Select, which I also love, but I have to say that I did not get the same reaction as you as a punchy, in-your-face taster. I agree with several other posters who recommend letting it calm down a bit and go back to it maybe in a month or so? Now, as to your shirt, I like it and love the "cowboy" attitude while enjoying bourbon - Texas approved!
Texas approved is about the biggest accolade going! I have a couple more shirts in a similar vibe on the way! As for the whiskey, I totally expect this to ease up with time, but I tried it again about a week after filming and it was still hot-as! Will re-visit it in a few weeks. Cheers bud!
This four roses is my favorite for mixers or old fashioned drinks because of the level of heat it doesnt get lost in the mix
Excellent shout! I haven't tried it in an Old Fashioned yet but I certainly will now. Cheers!
I would NEVER judge or opine on a freshly opened bottle. Of course it will come across as tight & sharp because it hasn't had the benefit of oxygenation and evaporation. Half way through will be a completely different experience; smoother, richer & mellow. More flavors, less ethanol. Awaiting your return for part 2!
Edit: The same principle applies to wine (air & evaporation), there's a reason why wine tastes better when it's been decanted 3-4 hours prior to tasting.
Completely fair - my reasoning for usually reviewing fresh bottles is to both give level footing to each bottle, and to also let viewers know what to expect when they first crack it open. But you're right it certainly will change, I'll be sure to do an update very soon! Cheers!
Small Batch is the sweet spot for "bang for buck" (IMO). SBS is great, but it's got a lot of really high quality competition at the higher price.
Yeah absolutely, if it opens up a bit and eases off on the heat with time then it could be a decent competitor in its price point but time will tell! Cheers!
I've yet to try any of the Four Roses Bourbons, I was going to bypass the standard yellow label version, leap frog the small batch and then go straight for the single barrel, judging from your review I think that I'll be doing just that ! A great honest review which is the very reason I keep coming back to you buddy, maybe the bottle will open up as it breaths over time but who wants to buy a £50 bottle of Bourbon only to have to grimace through the first couple of swallows just to get to the good stuff some months down the line ? Certainly not me !
Absolutely! I wouldn't totally ignore the original if its at a good price but the other two are definitely the stand-outs for me. The Single Barrel's I've had in the past have been my favourite but obviously no guarantee what you get in any new ones. Cheers!
Well i see this was three months ago so i hope you did just that. The garden variety and even the small batch is fpr price alone. They arent going to ruin your day but no flavor. The single barrel is great, one of the best values in bourbon, but i even like the small batch select more even with the higher price tag
Spot on review again. I've had all the offerings from Four Roses, and my preference is the original. Great value bourbon, IMO.
It's been a good while since I've had the original, I really must get a bottle! Cheers
Just picked up a bottle of ben holiday and it got better and better with each poor
That's one I've never seen in the UK! Which version did you get?
Totally agree, I’ve done this and the single barrel SBS and the single barrel was definitely better.
Cheers 🥃
Seems almost everyone feels the same way! Very curious. Cheers!
Have you seen single barrel, barrel strength? that'd be a good compare.
That would be a fantastic comparison, sadly never seen in it the UK!
the SBS has 6 of the 10 recipes. all of the premium products are good. no need to choose, just buy them all and enjoy.
Enjoying a standard small batch while watching this (which is very nice). I had the single barrel a while ago and I know all single barrels will generally be different but found that quite punchy, very nice all the same! Maybe a comparison between the 2 would be good.
Great shout! Yeah seeing a lot of people really enjoying the standard but not so much this one so would be an interesting comparison for sure! Cheers!
Maybe two mashbills, but way more than two recipes.
Small Batch Select is my fav of theirs, but I should do a blind with single barrel and Small Batch to see how it really stands up.
Great shout, I certainly will! And yes, I believe it's six recipes in total so it is a very complex blend. I'm going to have couple more pours out of it and leave it for a few months for it to find its feet and give it another go and comparison test. Cheers!
I had this a few weeks ago. It was around $68. I wasn't impressed. I preferred the $48 normal single barrel
Update on this bottle coming very soon!
‘This is my bourbon drinking shirt!’
That’s the merch!
Excellent shout! Just need Dixxon interested in a collab 🤣 Cheers!
Sounds like a Rebel Cask str barrel pick that they can't sell here in PA... I bought two bottles months ago and I've yet to see another one sell at any of the 3-4 stores I pop in regularly at... they just sit. It's 122 proof (not 104)... but I'd describe it similarly... delicious but too hot (and I drink higher proof stuff regularly)... but it turns absolutely candy-delicious over ice.
I've not bought this bottle yet... I've tried a couple of the Single Barrels and like them alright, but not my favorite bottle at the price... and I had the yellow label (I ordered the select, but Im almost positive they actually poured me the yellow label) at a bar and could barely drink it.
I think the challenge this bottle may face is the Single barrels come in like 16 expressions and of course being single barrels, naturally vary some... so for the bourbon explorer who doesn't just want a bottle to buy and stick with it for the rest of their life; the single barrel offers a much more exciting offering... and if you want to buy something and stick with it... there's better bottles @ $60 than this.
Great summary there! I'll give this a go over ice as well once our weather picks up to see if it makes more sense that way. Hoping it will ease-up completely but time will tell. Cheers!
Same price as the single barrel in michigan 😊
I've done a re-visit on this now, and changed my mind a little, but I'd still be going for the Single Barrel!
Heyup big un …..looks and sounds ok …..hope your all good mate
All good cheers bud! Hope you're well!
Maybe add a few drops of water?
The fact that bourbon has no E150 doesn't mean that the appearance is irrelevant. In Scotch or Irish, darker colour might just mean (and all too often does) that there is more dye. Plenty of pale whiskies have way more flavour than darker ones. In bourbon, colour is all down to barrel influence.
Never tried this but I had a bottle of the standard Small Batch a couple of years ago and that was pretty good.
Apologies, I wasn't very clear - I simply meant that commenting further on the colour when not in direct comparison with another dram was a bit redundant as it looked exactly as expected.
Many others have commented that they love the Small Batch as well but struggled with this! Cheers!
Gotta let it cool off… let me know if you still like it better than the SB near the halfway point of the bottle. Cheers!
I certainly will - I'm going to have a few pours out of it and then let it sit for a few months and then will re-visit and do some comparisons! I'm sure it will improve, but time will tell!
How much is one of these bottles?
$40-$55
$55-$65 not Good not my favorite
Or any of my buddies blind taste test
@@DanDaWhiskeyMan82 $65 definitely seems more then it’s worth to me. Even at $40 why not pay $7 more for a single barrel?
About £50-60 in the UK bud.
If your stuck in the snow in scotland….this is the one then🤣🤣🥵
Haha for sure, would melt it all away!
Disagree I like these both the single barrel and the select are great pours. Again everyone has their palate. I’d suggest you let it sit then go back to it it’s 4 proof points higher than the single barrel. And is it your first drink of the day? that could have a bit to do with it. Just saying.
Oh for sure, everyone is different and everything tastes a bit different at different times. On this video it was my first drink of the day as I try and do that with all videos for consistency - however, I tried it a week after filming when it wasn't my first and had a very similar experience, but I'd be surprised if this doesn't mellow with time so there will be a re-visit for sure!
Tom…..that’s a logger shirt 🤣🤣🤣
😂😂
NOPE!!!! The Single Barrel and the Regular Small Batch is soooooo much better!!!!
So far I totally agree - hoping this improves with time as others have suggested. Cheers!
Of course not.