Four Roses Small Batch: As if God himself has just handed you a little piece of freaking heaven in a

Apr 5, 2015
5 min read

After chatting to the mighty Four Roses bourbon maestro and Master Distiller, Jim Rutledge, last week, we thought we’d strip off and dive head first into their prestigious and oh so beautifully crafted Small Batch and give it the We Are Distilled treatment. And man, did we have some bloody fun! This bourbon is good. Damn good. Lovingly crafted using four original and limited editions bourbons carefully selected by the Don himself, Four Roses Small Batch feels like God himself has just elegantly rolled out from his cloud bed and handed you a little piece of freaking heaven in a glass.

But first, let’s declare a bit of honesty. Due to our encompassing, insane love for bourbon (it is forever present in our hip flasks) and our inability to say, “we’re only out for one tonight” our first attempt at this review was, well, how can we put it? Outrageously intoxicating. Not only did we fail to write a single freaking word, but we flailed around like a bunch of illegible hoodlums and ‘accidentally’ fell asleep on our doorstep! A sure embarrassment for most, but for us a fine point that only goes to beautifully prove the delectability of this immense bourbon. Our second attempt was a hell of a lot more successful. Anyway, less about our sprituous endeavours, let’s go at this bourbon like a bunch of bone-dry alcohol zombies.

But before we get stuck in (again), let’s take a look at some facts. Hailing from the oven-like, bluegrass yielding, bourbon swilling region of Lawrenceburg Kentucky, Four Roses Small Batch is a mammoth addition to the distilleries range. However, things haven’t always been so sickly sweet for these Southern Belles. They’ve been on a wilder popularity ride than David bloody Beckham. After becoming the verruca on the fickle foot of the American bourbon society in the 60s/70s, when the brand sold inferior blends not made in Kentucky, Four Roses have since pulled their whiskey producing arses out of those villainous depths (after being taken over in 2002) and now continue to deliver a terrifically top notch Small Batch to get your bourbon-loving, salivating mouths round.

And if you don’t want to take our word for it then these awards and accolades will surely nudge you on. The Small Batch has won Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirit Competition in 2008, 2010 and 2014, Gold at the Denver International Spirits Competition in 2014, Best Bourbon No Age at the Whiskey Magazines World Whiskies Awards 2009 and a dizzying display of more, but space and the possibility of developing arthritis in our typing fingers prevents us from listing them all. But you can check them all out, here, on the website.

Anyway enough of the facts, let’s get testing. Jesus, this bourbon has some bloody spice to it. The aromas are simply angelic. Those graceful tones of wintery spice engulf your senses whilst hints of succulent honey dance alongside murmurs of cool, brown sugar and those soft, creamy vanilla hits. Your nose gets a slight poke of dry hay, like you were frolicking about a sun-filled hay field with some hot stable hand from the next village on. But it’s really smooth, no unwanted or overbearing vapours, just sweet, sweet Kentucky love, all the way.

And that love ever so blissfully continues all the way to your mouth. Huzzah! This Kentuckian means serious business and it’s making us weak at the knees. The body is so much fuller on the tongue; thick, creamy and smooth. That winter spice pops it head up again, delivering a great blow of warmth that leaves an ample impression in your mouth. You’ll soon discover hints of soft fruit rolling in alongside thick honey, creamy custard and whispers of beautifully toasted oak. It all makes for a really fantastically balanced brew.

But beware; this bourbon is smooth. Dangerously smooth. It seeps down your throat with such a warming sensation that enthrawls you like an invigorating hug. It’s that dangerously smooth that after a short while half the bottle will be gone and you’ll be declaring your undying love for your pet goldfish whilst slurring the lyrics to ‘Dirty Old Town’! Yeah, it’s that freaking good! And the finish has a great length to it too. Once it’s seeped it’s way down, you can still feel it dance on your tongue like an Michael Flatley on coke. It leaves such a warm, tingly sensation.

But what makes this bourbon stand out for us is it’s deliverance. It dives on your tongue like a gold medal swimming Olympian determined for victory. It’s so subtle, so smooth but direct and tastefully efficient, and the thick, vanilla-ry, custard sweetness is enough to make you swoon like a love struck teenager. This is simply just one great small batch that brings to the table everything you need in a bourbon. After sipping you’ll soon see why we easily consumed such an amount. It’s easily done with such a mammoth bourbon like this. Four Roses, you deserve one mighty pat on the back.

You can pick it up here, at Master of Malt.

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Four Roses Small Batch Cocktails

Our resident Technical Editor and Head Bartender for Reunion Bar London, David Coveney, show us how to best drink this Small Batch.

The entire range of Four Roses have, at one point or another, stood on my backbar. The small batch being one that I always look to have. I know we shouldn't use the term perfect too freely but this as a bourbon does exactly what you want it to do. I love its silky smooth character that helps make a perfect sipping spirit but lends itself so well to cocktails too.

Rose Julep

Playing on the name and bringing some rose water into the mix makes a great evening starter and twist on the Mint Julep.

Ingredients

50ml Four Roses Small Batch

10ml Sugar Syrup

10 Mint Leafs

3 Drops of Bokers Bitters (or Angostura)

3 Drops of Rose Water

Method: Combine all ingredients in a julep tin, add crushed ice and chun well until chilled. Garnish with a large sprig of mint and a rose petal.

Red Chilli

On the hunt for something longer with spicy and fruity twist, I chucked some fresh chilli in the shaker and came out with this.

Ingredients