When the recent heat wave was at its height, I was okay with the fact that my t-shirts got soaking wet as soon as I moved a limb. And I also made my peace with the sore throat I got from having a fan running in the bedroom all night long. What got me worked up, however, was this: In the many days and nights during which we had 30+ degrees outside, I was not really in the mood for pouring myself a dram. Sure, I still drank a glass of Scotch on occasion, but I did not enjoy it as much as I usually do. So I thought to myself: “Why not buy a decent bourbon and drink it on ice”? The next day, I paid my local dealer Weinquelle Lühmann a visit. While skimming their American whiskey compartment, this bottle of Four Roses Single Barrel caught my eye. It looked stylish, sounded tasty and did not cost an arm and a leg. Since the employees, whose expertise and honesty I value a lot, confirmed that this was a good choice, I made the purchase straight away. I opened it the same afternoon and immediately agreed that my 30 bucks were well spent. There is quite a bit going on in this bottle: The lengthy rest of 7+ years has granted the spirit both smoothness and complexity, while the raised ABV of 100 proof has given it a sturdy, robust frame. I am happy to have chosen the Four Roses Single Barrel as my summer sip for this year!
by Tobi
Eye: Reddish brown leather.
Nose: First a lot of caramel, gingerbread and sweet chestnuts. Then some spices and a couple of dried fruits (such as apricot and mango). Also a spoonful of grinded coffee. Above all I also sense fleeting traces of something that reminds me of a just opened glass of honey gherkins. As unusual as this sounds, the sweetish sourness brought into play by the last-mentioned sensation is actually quite intriguing.
Palate: Intense and peppery in the beginning. Also a little nutty. After a short while, orange fruits take over. Quite typically for a bourbon (at least in my experience), the mouthfeel is a bit waxy. The often-quoted glue note is part of the mix, too. But it rather accentuates than overshadows the other flavors. All in all, I found this Four Roses expression to be very enjoyable – both neat and on ice!
Finish: When swallowed, the whiskey becomes almost velvety. Although they do not stay with us for too long, the farewell notes of vanilla, oak, nuts and peach are smooth and good.
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- The dram
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- The label
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- In the glass
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- Promo shot (taken from FourRosesBourbon.com)
Type: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky
Region: USA (Kentucky)
Aged: NAS
Alc. volume: 50 per cent
Bottle size: 0.7 litres
Barrel no.: LE 78-65
Price range: ~30.00 Euro
More info: http://www.fourrosesdistillery.com/ (Distillery)
BarleyMania | Whisky & Whiskey 
Thanks for stopping by my site! Your blog is great. And I think you chose well for your summer beverage. I’m getting ready to take a vacation to Kentucky soon to hit the bourbon trail. Might have to visit the Four Roses distillery!
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Wow… sounds as if you have one helluva trip ahead of you! I’ve never been to the US, but if I ever head over there, I hope I’ll end up in a region that has whiskey distilleries. ;) I will, of course, keep an eye on your blog and check out your travel reports (if you plan to write any).
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Yeah, my husband and I are pretty excited. Although I prefer Scotch over bourbon, it definitely comes in a close second. It will be fun to tour a few distilleries and taste some bourbons that aren’t available for purchase here in Virginia. I’ll for sure be writing about this trip. :)
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