Review: Four Roses Mariage Collection 2008 Bourbon
Ahhh now here’s something special.
I’m on record as being a big fan of Four Roses bourbon already. Now the distillery is launching a limited-edition blended bourbon, at cask strength, no less: A heady 112.4 proof (though my barrel sample was “just” 111.4 proof), which will burn off your eyebrows if you’re not careful.
Yeah, you need a splash of water, but less than you’d think. Four Roses Mariage 2008 (the name is from the French for marriage, which was the spawn of the Four Roses brand to begin with) is a blend of two single-barrel expressions at 4R. One is a rich 13-year-old, one is a spicy 10-year-old. If all goes well, it’s the first edition of many to come: Each year the company will unleash a new blend with a different composition. This year, 3,500 bottles are being released (though it’s not quite yet on the market).
As for this Mariage, it’s truly awesome, a smooth, dark, honey-flavored bourbon that is classic in style but reminiscent in some ways of a good Irish whiskey, with banana and bubble gum notes easily identifiable. It’s peppery on the nose, but that spice doesn’t really spill over into the whiskey — very intriguing. Strongly sweet, it’s incredibly easy to drink, and it goes down almost too easy.
I’m already looking forward to the 2009 edition.
A / $65 to $90 (est.) / fourroses.us
September 24th, 2008 at 10:26 pm
uh-oh…if they feel the need to put “Barrel Strength” on the bottle, we’re going to have be very careful with this stuff…now, to go out and get some! thanks for the tip!
September 26th, 2008 at 3:53 pm
Oh my god. It’s bad enough that none of the Four Roses make their way to Oregon (without help from Binnys) but now this? Where the heck did you get a bottle?
September 26th, 2008 at 4:03 pm
Jeff - Sorry if that wasn’t clear: I received a prerelease sample from Four Roses… it’s not out on the market yet. (This also explains why my sample was at a slightly different proof than the final bottling will be.) Anyway if you can’t find a bottle locally, try looking online! Email me if you need a link!
October 24th, 2008 at 6:45 am
Any way to get four roses in MA?
November 28th, 2008 at 3:17 pm
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January 2nd, 2009 at 5:16 am
We are in Australia, do you have any one who sells it here???, thanks, Rick&Family..