There’s no big anniversary to celebrate this year, so it’s back to perhaps a tamer recipe for 2024 in Four Roses’ Limited Edition Small Batch release. What you’re getting this time around is a blend of 12 year old OBSV (21%), 15 year old OESK (23%), 16 year old OESF (39%), and 20 year old OBSV (7%). Last year’s release saw some 25 year old stock in the mix, making for the oldest component ever to appear in an annual Small Batch release. 20 year old bourbon isn’t exactly a youngster, of course, so let’s dig in and see what master distiller Brent Elliott has come up with this time around.

With this 2024 edition, Elliott has crafted an uncommon crowd-pleaser that precisely no one will be able to dislike.

The nose here bursts with an equal blend of dessert-like vanilla and caramel, mixed with fruity notes of stewed apples and orange peel. Barrel char notes add a solid layer of smoke to the above, but it’s sweet — like BBQ brisket doused in sauce. A significantly racy edge driven by the older whiskey in the blend follows along behind it, folding in pepper and a toasted rye bread quality, evoking caraway.

A fruit bomb awaits the drinker on the palate: More apples, orange, and cherries, then maple and additional vanilla. Spicy and hot at full strength, a little water helps tame the beast and coaxes out notes of chocolate, cloves, and, late in the game, some anise. Ringed again with pepper and charred apple or cherry wood on the finish, the bourbon remains biting yet still manages to xoax out more fruit. The fade-out evokes an autumnal apple cider feel.

Solid and unique stuff from start to end. Arrives September 14.

108.2 proof.

A- / $220 / fourrosesbourbon.com 

Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch Bourbon 2024 Edition

$220

9

Rating

9.0/10