Some would consider a single barrel to be the ultimate definition of limited. Single barrels have been known to yield just a small number of bottles, ranging from a pretty standard range of 180–220 bottles from well-aged whiskey, as high as 267 if little to no evaporation occurred, or all the way down to something as crazy as just a handful of bottles on exceptionally 'short barrels'. Single barrels have been incredibly trendy in recent years, with enthusiasts across the country beating their chests claiming to have found one of the best of the best for themselves.
Four Roses Limited Edition bucks that trend with a small batch, barrel strength bourbon that is a blend of many well-aged barrels. It's an opportunity for master distiller Brent Elliott to sign his name to what he considers his yearly masterpiece. This blend, consisting of bourbons from the OBSV, OESK, and OESF recipes, aims to balance the unique characteristics of each of these recipes and how they matured in their own barrels into something that nearly everyone in the bourbon world can appreciate. This is quite the tall task as Brent picks through the delicate fruit, rye, baking spice, light grain, and minty tones these mash bills and yeast strains impart on the final product. The 2024 release yielded 16,680 bottles. While that number seems high, consider some of the market alternatives, like Pappy Van Winkle 15 year, boasting a similar age statement—that release might produce less than 5,000 bottles. It wouldn't be surprising given the age statements on the barrels for this project that Brent would have had to have blended something north of 200 barrels in order to produce this kind of yield with over 3300 gallons needed to be mixed. Mixing that kind of quantity into something of spectacular quality is no short order, so it's no surprise Brent decides to only undertake this kind of project once per year.
Still, with 34 million regular whiskey drinkers in the US, it's not like there's a bottle waiting on the shelf for everyone, so with 16,680 bottles—an increase from 2023 which produced 15,600, the 'Limited Edition' distinction still clearly finds its mark here. I am blessed to have tried many of these bottlings through the years, including the original 2008 Mariage, the 2013 125th Anniversary, 2021, 2022, and 2023 limited edition releases. I've also enjoyed countless single barrel offerings and even gone to the distillery to select my own a handful of times. What has built in my mind since is a complete trust that the barrels aging in the Four Roses warehouses are capable of bourbon greatness. While the label bearing that name is not a guarantee of quality, it's certainly a good starting place. Let's see where the 2024 bottling of the Four Roses limited edition small batch barrel strength bourbon lands on my quality scale.
Company on Label: Four Roses Distillery
Whiskey Type: Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey
Mash Bill Percentages: 31% OBSV, 23% OESK, 39% OESF, and 7% OBSV, resulting in a derived average mash bill of 69.3% corn, 25.7% rye, and 5% malted barley
Proof: 108.2°
Age: 31% 12 year, 23% 15 year, 39% 16 year, and 7% 20 year, resulting in an average age of 14.81 years
Further identification: The 2024 release yielded 16,680 bottles, first available in the fall at an MSRP of $220
Nose: Right up front is the classic barrel funk that comes with teenage age statements, alongside a distinct mintiness that the largest portion of the OESF recipe is known for can be found with little trouble. Oh yeah, that's well aged whiskey with zero flaws and zero tannic tones, which I'm quite glad for. Deep inhales produce vanilla biscotti tones and a light frothiness, as if you dunked the biscotti into a warm cappuccino. Warming the well-rested glass in my hands produces notes of leather, a light earthiness like slippery clay, and a bouquet of sweet floral tones like heliotrope and cherry blossom. Deep inhales offer hints of caramel and butterscotch before the prevalent woodshop aromas swing back in en masse. I reckon it's time for a sip here.
Coming back from a few sips puts on a nose that continues to lean in on the wood tones while getting keen compliments from graham cracker and biscoff aromas. Honey-jasmine perfume makes the mind long and swoon for what is just out of reach. Late in the glass, I find a richness that is most welcome as the caramel and butterscotch tones from earlier take on a new potency. This is the kind of deep inhale nosing experience that results in deep, satisfying sighs and a wide smile. The empty glass smells of warm baked cinnamon coffee cake, graham cracker, leather, and white pepper.
Palate: My first sip reveals balanced cherry and mint—an odd combo to read in close proximity, but somehow it works just perfectly on this pour. The mouthfeel is silky but not too coating, leaving the impression of elderflower and a long-departed vanilla creaminess. Another sip raises the bar with distinct wood spice, soft crème fraîche, and honey-laden graham cracker. Overall, it's decadent, balanced, classy, relaxing, and sweet—everything you could ask for out of an easy-sipping, complex bourbon. Tasting later in the glencairn continues to impress as honeysuckle, light lavender tea, and thin slices of pear slowly shimmer across the taste buds. The mouthfeel continues to be very easy and approachable, as if a gossamer layer of silk were waving on a cool breeze across the tongue. Sipping near the bottom of the glass offers a well-rounded finish of cherry juice, grenadine, and red delicious apples. While this isn't the type of bourbon that leaves you with a profound, thought-provoking experience, it's an absolute masterclass in balance and flavor blending skill. My last taste is much like the sips that came before: perfectly integrated cinnamon baking spice, juicy pear, a quick pop of cherry, and a long linger of subtle mint and a general earthiness. Yum!
TL;DR: Impeccably balanced bourbon that drinks classy, easy, and lovely
Rating: 4.5/5
What an incredible masterclass in blending for drinkability this pour is. The 2024 release shines as an incredibly relaxing bourbon to sit with and sip slowly, to which I can certainly attest, as I spent the better part of 2 hours with this glass during this write-up. With the 2024 offering, Brent Elliott has proven once again why he has earned the title of master distiller at Four Roses, expertly blending huge quantities of the distillery's oldest stocks into something well-worth sipping. Savor this on its own, and you're in for an absolute treat of a bourbon with this pour. I'm certainly going to enjoy my bottle, but I likely won't have the itch to hunt for a backup at this price tag. If you're interested in how it stacks up against some of the other Four Roses Limited Edition releases, check out the blind flight I tasted through comparing the 2021, 2022, and 2023 releases below. You might be surprised where it landed!
