FOUR ROSES BARREL STRENGTH SiB OBSO
“Ask The Angles” selected by Bitters & Bottles (2020)MASH BILL – 60% corn, 35% rye, 5% malted barley
PROOF – 109.6
AGE – 8 years 11 months
DISTILLERY – Four Roses Distillery
PRICE – $82
FOUR ROSES BARREL STRENGTH SiB OBSV
“Nate’s Barrel” selected by Healthy Spirits (2019)MASH BILL – 60% corn, 35% rye, 5% malted barley
PROOF – 105
AGE – 12 years
DISTILLERY – Four Roses Distillery
PRICE – $76 (normally $109)
This is another in a series of Four Roses posts, tracking my journey with the brand through an extended mash bill recipe comparison. It’s an ongoing experiment in comparing the ten Four Roses recipes over time, while my palate continues its constant evolution. I open a new bottle as the last draws toward its end. The two bottles I have open at any given time vary by only one of the recipe’s elements, whether the mash bill or yeast strain. I’ve been less strict about matching age.
I’ve already posted notes about this particular OBSV release. Now the bottle is nearing its end. So I’m comparing it to this recently uncorked OBSO, itself the next in line on my currently fourteen bottle line-up:
THESE ARE DONE ☟
OESO, 10 years 11 months, 105 proof, picked by Plumpjack Wines & Spirits
OESV, 9 years 11 months, 107.4 proof, picked by Plumpjack Wines & Spirits
(Video) Four Roses Single Barrel Barrel Strength Review Woodmans Pick 2022 OESV | BETTER Than ECBP?OBSV, 8 years 8 months, 121.6 proof, picked by K&L
OBSO, 11 years, 110.2 proof, picked by Ledger’s Liquors
OBSV, 10 years 10 months, 127.2 proof, picked by K&L
OBSK, 10 years 9 months, 120 proof, picked by Bounty Hunter
OESK, 10 years, 110 proof, picked by K&L
OESV, 10 years, 122.6 proof, picked by K&L
OESK, 14 years, 113.4 proof, Elliott’s Select 2016 Limited Edition
OESV, 10 years 8 months, 112.8 proof, picked by Ledger’s Liquors
HERE WE ARE ☟
OBSV, 12 years, 105 proof, picked by Healthy Spirits
OBSO, 8 years 11 months, 109.6 proof, picked by Bitters & Bottles
AND THESE ARE NEXT ☟
OBSK, 8 years 2 months, 122.8 proof, picked by K&L
OBSO, 8 years 10 months, 106.8 proof, picked by the Single Barrel Project
In comparing this OBSV with the previous OESV, I tasted the former on its uncorking pour and the latter at its bottle kill. For today’s comparison, though I’m near the bottle kill of the OBSV, I’m three pours into this OBSO. I wanted to allow it some air before putting down tasting notes in writing, since my past experiences with both the OBSO and OESO recipes have been studies in evolution over the life of the bottles. Something about the O yeast yields initially reserved bourbons that very gradually unfurl their riches as they take air. Usually it’s the final fourth of an OBSO or OESO that wins me over. So even at just a few pours in I may still be premature here. But, the OBSV has been at its last few ounces for some weeks, and tasting it recently it seemed to be getting over-oxidized, so, I didn’t want to risk losing it to too much air.
These two bottles use the same mash bill, but differ in the yeasts used—O versus V—as well as 3 years 1 month in age. The proofs vary by 4.6 degrees. And their warehouse placements are different. That last bit is a level of detail I have yet to endeavor tracking. There are Four Roses fans who do track warehouses, however! To that end, for those interested, a quick review of how to read the Four Roses single barrel label:
Theselittle strips placed toward the front-bottom of the bottles are the standard Four Roses single barrel label referencing the exact barrel. Using the OBSO (on right above) as an example, reading from left to right:
54.8%— This bourbon was bottled at its natural barrel strength of 54.8% ABV, or 109.6 Proof.
NS— The barrel was stored in Warehouse N, on its south side. Warehouses have their micro-climates. You might find you like what tends to happen to bourbons stored in one warehouse versus another, and even one side of the warehouse versus another.
83-1K— The barrel was stored on Rick 83 (a rick is a vertical stack of shelves, or, tiers) Tier 1 (Four Roses uses ricks built of 6 tiers), and was the 11th barrel from the front—the letter K being 11th in the alphabet. The most pertinent aspect here is the tier. Tier 1 is at floor level, for example, and tier 6 is the top-most level. This matters because heat rises, and temperature impacts evaporation during the aging process. The more liquid evaporates, the more concentrated the alcohol and flavors are in what remains. Given this Bitters & Bottles barrel aged on the first level, Tier 1, it’s no surprise that its proof is 109.6. Barrels aged on higher, warmer tiers lose more volume over time and tend to come out at proofs closer to 120+.
And this label is the custom label generated for the store that picked the barrel. It’s always affixed to one side of the bottle:
The store can choose what to include on it. In the above example, Bitters & Bottles is the store in question and included their logo. They also gave a name to this barrel, “Ask The Angels,” a reference to the “angel’s share,” the whiskey that evaporates during aging. The recipe name, mash bill, and age are also included.
The age of this barrel is listed at 8 years 11 months. Age is typically rounded to the lowest month. So this barrel may literally be 8 years, 11 months and 7 days, for example. Similarly, a barrel listed at an even age of 12 years might literally be 12 years and 25 days.
In the four-letter recipe code, the first O and the S never change—the O referring to the Four Roses Distillery in Lawrenceburg, KY, and the S to the whiskey being “straight” (i.e. aged at least 2 years).
The second letter refers to one of two mash bills: E (75% corn / 20% rye/ 5% barley) or B (60% corn / 35% rye / 5% barley).
The fourth letter refers to one of five yeast strains—F, K, O, Q, V—each providing their own impact on flavor. Four Roses attaches a tag to the neck of their single barrel bottles featuring this handy at-a-glance recipe guide, with very general tasting notes:
So here we are, two and a half months into this OBSV’s life and at its very final pours, and a week into this OBSO’s life and at its initial pours. Here are some brief notes taken side-by-side in traditional Glencairns.
COLOR
BOTH – virtually indistinguishable vibrant toasted pumpkin oranges, with the OBSO showing oh so slightly darker—a surprise given it’s the younger of the two.
NOSE
OBSV – very bright with oak and other woody spices, then cinnamon on dry vanilla-caramel, a whiff of dried raspberries, peach tea, some milk chopcolate, and… I think that’s Fruit Loops…
OBSO – reserved, with smoked and toasted oak like at a daytime campfire (I can almost smell the briquettes), some dark chocolate… faint fruit like baked peach and cherry…
(Video) Blind Tasting and Review of all 10 Four Roses Single Barrel Recipes!!!TASTE
OBSV – bright dry oak, the caramel and fruit notes from the nose all wrapped up in one another
OBSO – very like the nose with that smoky oaky campfire aspect taking the lead, and some fruit and caramel way in the background
FINISH
OBSV – a fine peppery tingle around lingering caramel, fruit pie, and fresh rough-shaved oak
OBSO – a more biting peppery prickle compared to the OBSV, leaving dry buttered toast, oak, and dry rye spices
OVERALL
OBSV – fresh cut oak on a sunny day
OBSO – oak stacked and waiting for the Winter’s fire in the hearth
WORTH BUYING?
BOTH – Because I am eternally intrigued by oak, and committed to this extended Four Roses recipe comparison, yes. But if those two things weren’t true, no.
Looking back at my first set of notes for the OBSV, it was dry and oaky then but also showed stronger chocolate notes. Now at its very final pours, if it hasn’t oxidized it has at least continued to dry out with air. It’s not unpleasant. But I can’t say it’s aged well since uncorking.
Looking over some past notes on an 11-year OBSO Ledger’s Liquors pick (tasted prior to the establishment of this blog), this OBSO shares its restrained quality, as well as an emphasis on dry wood notes. I made six notations over the life of that Ledger’s pick. By the fifth I was coming around to some emerging chocolate and caramel notes. And by the sixth I’d come fully around and finally dubbed it “exceptional.” So I’ll defintely put a hold on publishing this post until I’m toward the end of this bottle, to see if that journey repeats. And there is another OBSO to come in my line-up, which I will be sure to cross-reference with this one.
Two more bottles remain in my 14-bottle extended line-up, an OBSK and another OBSO—unless I come into some more! Given the elevating prices of these Four Roses single barrels, however, I don’t think that is likely to happen. This experiment is probably reaching its end.
At this juncture, it’s my sense that the OESV and OESK recipes offer the best bang for my personal taste’s buck. Past OBSK bottles have also made great impressions. But the OBSV, OBSO, and OESO outings have all paired struggle with interest. I haven’t even included recipes using the F or Q yeasts, since I’d determined already they were too often not for me.
That said, our tastes evolve over time. When this current line-up ends, perhaps it will be time to re-evaluate my sense for those F’s and Q’s…
Until next time, cheers!
Addendum
Given my past O yeast experiences, I indeed continued to track this OBSO over time. The very next night after this tasting was conducted, a strong orange juice note emerged from the nose through to the finish, sweetly balancing the wood. Insta-better! Four days later, the same. Then about two weeks later, the orange juice note had eased up a bit, though it still remained present enough to offer a sweet balance to the dry woody aspects.
Another four weeks on—so, about six weeks after the above tasting—now at the Bitters & Bottles OBSO pick’s final quarter, I checked in with it again. On this night the notes were these:
NOSE – still reserved, with that smoky campfire note up front, a tangy caramel behind it, a hint of dry orange peel
TASTE – though dry overall, there’s a nicely balanced blend of orange juice, caramel, oak, and almond butter, with just a touch of alcohol varnish about it
FINISH – very true to the taste, and lingering a good long while…
OVERALL – a subdued and subtle pour, yet somehow also dense and rich within its tight confines.
Interesting. Six weeks on, it tastes very reminiscent of my initial impressions, now with that orange aspect figuring more into the mix and providing balance. I’ll revisit this again, of course, once it’s reaching its very final ounces and the next single barrel in the line up—the OBSK picked by K&L—has been cracked.
The journey continues…
FAQs
Comparison: Two Four Roses Barrel Strength Single Barrels – OBSO & OBSV? ›
OVERVIEW. Details. OBSV = 60% corn 35% rye, 5% malted barley. A sweet corn base, additional rye adds spicy notes further polished by the barley. The strain of yeast used in this single barrel adds a touch of delicate fruitiness perfectly in balance with the spice and clove.
What is OBSV bourbon? ›OVERVIEW. Details. OBSV = 60% corn 35% rye, 5% malted barley. A sweet corn base, additional rye adds spicy notes further polished by the barley. The strain of yeast used in this single barrel adds a touch of delicate fruitiness perfectly in balance with the spice and clove.
What is the ABV of Four Roses barrel strength? ›50% alcohol/volume. Dried spice, pear, cocoa, vanilla and maple syrup. Hints of ripe plum and cherries, robust, full body, mellow. Smooth and delicately long.
Are all Four Roses single barrels the same? ›Four Roses Single Barrel (Barrel Strength)
Four Roses famously uses ten different recipes, and the barrel proof offerings always showcase a specific selection of one of those recipes. There's typically a label on the left side that states which recipe was selected and often the age of the barrel upon bottling.
Four Roses defines OBSV as delicate fruity (pear, apricot), spicy, and creamy.
What are the levels of Four Roses Bourbon? ›Four Roses Bourbon: 80 U.S. proof; sold in U.S., Europe and Japan. Four Roses Small Batch: 90 proof; sold in U.S. and Europe. Four Roses Single Barrel: 100 proof; sold in U.S., Europe, and in small volumes in Japan. Four Roses Small Batch Select: 104 proof; aged at least six years; non-chill-filtered; sold in U.S.
What does OBSV stand for? ›Obsv: French abbreviation meanings
obsv. observer.
Blanton's Original set the standard for single barrel bourbons in 1984. Best served neat or on the rocks. Bottled at 46.5% alcohol by volume.
How strong is Four Roses bourbon? ›Versatile, Perfect for CocktailsFour Roses
Savor its unique aromas and flavors in your favorite Bourbon cocktail, on the rocks, or with a splash. 80 proof. 40% alcohol/volume.
Cask-strength whiskey is bottled from the barrel, completely unadulterated (meaning it hasn't been diluted with water) and is generally between 60 to 65 percent ABV.
Is Four Roses Single Barrel being discontinued? ›
Is Four Roses Single Barrel discontinued? No, Four Roses Single Barrel is not discontinued. It is still part of the company's available products along with their Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Small-Batch, and limited-edition releases.
Is Four Roses Single Barrel good for old fashioned? ›Four Roses Single Barrel is the winner.
Is small batch or single barrel better? ›Single barrel is generally veiwed as better than small batch bourbon, but this isn't a hard and fast rule.
What are the different flavor profiles? ›There are five universally accepted basic tastes that stimulate and are perceived by our taste buds: sweet, salty, sour, bitter and umami.
What is the difference between flavor and flavor profile? ›Technically, a flavor profile offers an empirical way to describe flavor—a way the experts agreed upon. When food enters your mouth, your tongue, your nose, your palate, and even your teeth register the sensations caused by that specific food.
What does flavor profile mean? ›A flavor profile is the combination of flavors and elements used in a dish.
Is Four Roses bourbon bottom shelf? ›For many years Four Roses had the reputation as a high-quality, top-shelf Bourbon. Once the brand was bought and new ownership changed the process and ingredients of the products, the brand quickly grew to be known as a bottom-shelf whiskey in the eyes of consumers across America for many years.
How long is four roses single barrel aged? ›Four Roses ages each barrel for at least 5 years. During that time the charred barrel will add oak and woody flavors to the Bourbon, as well as sweet vanilla and toffee notes from the carmelized sugars that are produced during the charring process.
Is Obsv a buy or sell? ›The consensus among Wall Street analysts is that investors should "hold" OBSV shares. A hold rating indicates that analysts believe investors should maintain any existing positions they have in OBSV, but not buy additional shares or sell existing shares. View OBSV analyst ratings or view top-rated stocks.
What happened to OBSV stock? ›ObsEva's common shares were delisted from the Nasdaq Capital Market, effective March 23, 2023, and a Form 25 was filed on March 27, 2023 to remove the registration of ObsEva's common shares under Section 12(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”).
Why is OBSV stock down? ›
The shares of Swiss biotech ObsEva SA (NASDAQ:OBSV) plunged ~78% after the company announced Wednesday it intends to begin a corporate restructuring after the FDA cited issues related to the marketing application of uterine fibroids therapy linzagolix.
How long is Blanton's single barrel aged for? ›Blanton's Red Single Barrel Bourbon is supposedly a least 8 years old while the “normal” Blanton's in the US is about 6 years old, but both share the same 46.5% ABV. Maybe the “treasure” comes in the form of 2 extra years of aging.
What is the rarest Blanton's letter? ›What is the rarest letter to find? All the letters are produced in equal amounts. However, because Blanton's is bottled by hand they are placed on the bottle at random.
Which Blanton's is most rare? ›There are fewer than six known bottles of Blanton's Sterling Silver in the world right now (there were only 100 ever made), and one is the vault at Buffalo Trace Distillery. The bottle was gifted to Japanese retailers in 1991. But the true unicorn is the 2012 Le Maison Du Whisky release.
Does bourbon get stronger with age? ›Bourbon does not get better after it is bottled. Unlike wines, distilled spirits like bourbon do not get better once bottled because the aging process stops.
Can you sip Four Roses bourbon? ›Made with the Same PassionSince 1888.
All you have to do is take one sip and you'll discover something that may both surprise and delight you – Four Roses is unlike any other Bourbon. Perhaps it's because only Four Roses handcrafts 10 distinct and extraordinary Bourbon recipes.
Four Roses SiB is one of the best bourbons consistently available. The high rye content along with the oak and caramel balance the flavors extremely well. It's complex but finishes lightly so that the next sip hits with all the original flavor notes again.
How strong is single barrel Jack Daniel's? ›What is this? The 47% ABV version of Jack Daniel's Single Barrel Tennessee Whiskey is actually quite good and one I recommend to any Jack Daniel's lover. It's one of the best whiskeys that Jack Daniel's offers, so the barrel proof version is quite an interesting proposition.
What is the difference between single barrel and cask strength? ›In short, Cask Strength refers to a bottle that has not had water added to it. It comes straight from the barrel. So you're getting exactly the same thing that you'd get if you poured it out of the barrel directly.
How long should you age bourbon in a barrel? ›Bourbon whiskey has typically aged a minimum of two years, though most brands are aged at least four years and often longer than that. The drastic change in flavor profile comes from how temperature affects the barrels. Typically, there is no temperature regulation in aging warehouses.
What happened to Four Roses Bourbon? ›
Even though Four Roses was the top selling Bourbon in the U.S. in the 30s, 40s and 50s, Seagram made the decision to discontinue the sale of Four Roses' Kentucky Straight Bourbon in the United States, and Four Roses was moved to the rapidly growing European and Asian markets where it quickly became and still is a top- ...
Is bulleit made by Four Roses? ›Ownership & Distillery
In fact, Bulleit was sourced from Four Roses, but now it is produced in Bulleit Frontier Distillery. On the other hand, Four Roses bourbon is produced in Four Roses Distillery in Lawrenceberg, Kentucky.
The distillery was purchased by Seagram in 1946 and in 1994 it became Four Roses Distillery.
Is an Old Fashioned better with bourbon or rye? ›Consequently, some traditionalists insist an Old-Fashioned should be made with rye, but bourbon is equally correct and the choice of whiskey should be entirely up to the personal taste of the drinker. Bourbon makes a mellow, slightly sweeter drink, while rye adds more spice and kick.
Who are the competitors of Four Roses? ›- Barton 1792 Distillery. $14.9M.
- The Whiskypedia. $13M.
- Boone County Distilling Co. $19.3M. ...
- Eastside Distilling Inc. $13M. ...
- Western Son Distillery. $24.7M. ...
- Sugar House Distillery LLC. $6.5M.
While small batch bourbon consists of contents from multiple barrels, single barrel bourbon contains whiskey from one specific barrel. Single barrel bourbon has more flavor variation than small batch whiskey because every barrel of whiskey has a profoundly different flavor profile.
What is special about single barrel? ›Single barrel Bourbon occupies a similar production, aging, and barrelling process to standard Bourbon. However, single-barrel Bourbons are seen as a premium class of whiskey. Each single barrel bottling comes from one individual aging barrel instead of a blended mix of Bourbons of various barrels.
Is single or double barrel better? ›So what's better — single-barrel or double-barrel bourbon? In all honesty, it all comes down to personal preference. You can find single and double-barrel bourbons that come at a range of price points, with a range of flavor profiles, and at varying proofs.
What balances out bitterness? ›Sweetness: From sugar, honey, fruits or otherwise, sweetness will counteract bitter and sour flavours. It can also be used to cut down the heat of a particularly spicy meal.
What are the three categories of flavorings? ›Flavorings can be divided into three principal types: "natural flavoring", "nature-identical flavorings", and "artificial flavorings".
What spice makes you pucker? ›
How it tastes: Herbaceous, slightly astringent and intensely sour, sorrel is guaranteed to make you pucker. In fact, its bright, acidic flavor is so zingy and tart that it can either lend balance or completely overwhelm a dish depending on how you use it.
What is an example of umami? ›Umami-rich ingredients can often be found in the store cupboard and are part of everyday cooking. Examples of umami foods are: naturally brewed soy sauce like Kikkoman, Marmite, anchovy relish, miso, tomato puree, fish sauce and Worcestershire sauce.
What are the 7 different tastes? ›The seven most common flavors in food that are directly detected by the tongue are: sweet, bitter, sour, salty, meaty (umami), cool, and hot.
What are the 6 flavor profiles? ›- Sweet taste.
- Sour taste.
- Salty taste.
- Spicy (pungent taste)
- Bitter taste.
- Astringent taste.
- Apple & cinnamon.
- Pumpkin/squash & spice/spicy.
- Fruit & punch.
- Lemon & Lime.
- Strawberry & banana.
- Tomato & basil.
- Chocolate & peanut butter.
- Garlic & herbs/herbal.
Sweet, sour, salty, bitter – and savory
Savory dishes that taste of broth evoke pleasant emotions in most people. They are a signal that the food is rich in protein. This flavor has been recognized as the fifth basic taste in addition to the four better known tastes of sweet, sour, bitter and salty.
A top note is the most present flavor you taste. It stands “on top” of all the other notes in the recipe. This and the main note are usually one, but not always. The more specific you are the easier it is to explain what you taste to someone, so attention is key.
What are the three types of bourbon? ›Standard Bourbon: The bourbon meets the minimum requirements defined by the law. Kentucky Bourbon: The only difference between Standard and Kentucky bourbon is that it is made in Kentucky. Straight Bourbon: The bourbon is aged for more than two years in charred oak barrels.
Who makes Costco Signature bourbon? ›Where is Kirkland Bourbon Made? Kirkland Signature Bourbon comes from Barton 1792 Distillery, located in the heart of Kentucky, owned by Sazerac. The distillery was named in 1792 in honor of the year Kentucky joined the United States.
What bourbon does Yellowstone use? ›John Dutton is portrayed as someone who prefers a glass of whiskey at the end of the day and many of the night scenes show him with a glass in his end. Although the labels are fake the internet detectives have figured out it is most likely bottles of Bulleit Frontier Whiskey.
What is the best bourbon Anthony Bourdain? ›
Maybe Pappy Van Winkle became a household name when Anthony Bourdain first drank it in a 2012 episode of The Layover. He proclaimed, “If God made Bourbon, this is what he'd make.”
What's the difference between bourbon whiskey and bourbon whiskey? ›There are many types of whiskey, and bourbon is just one of them (in other words, all bourbon is whiskey, but not all whiskey is bourbon). While all whiskeys are made from a fermented mash of grains, bourbon is predominantly made from corn (more on that later).
What's the difference between sipping whiskey and bourbon? ›Bourbon tends to be smoother than whiskey, with a softer mouthfeel and an overall sweet-presenting flavor, making it a good entry-level sipper for those new to whiskey. Wheated bourbons have a mash bill with a high concentration of wheat, which creates an even sweeter taste.
What's the difference between bourbon whiskey and bourbon? ›Bourbon is a type of whiskey, much the way that Champagne is a type of wine. So all bourbon is whiskey, but not all whiskey is bourbon.
Who makes Kirkland brand whiskey? ›Kirkland's scotches are all sourced by independent bottler Alexander Murray. For the blended scotch (and the four other current varieties), it's not exactly clear from which distilleries in Scotland the spirits come. Still, the blended scotch is a hit because shoppers can normally nab it at a very low price.
What whiskey is Kirkland bourbon? ›Kirkland Signature Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is characterized by strong notes of oak interlaced with honey, caramel and dried fruit notes. It finishes with a long, lasting spicy rye finish. This Single Barrel expression is non-chill filtered and showcases the unique character of every barrel.
Who makes Kirkland vodka for Costco? ›Kirkland vodka is produced by the LeVecke Corp. in Mira Loma, California. Kirkland is a Costco brand, but LeVecke also produces some other brands in the wine and spirits space that you may be aware of like: Three Birds Hard Seltzer.
What bourbon does John Wick drink? ›What Bourbon does Jon Wick drink? Keanu Reeves' character definitely has expensive taste, from stylish cars to flashy weaponry, and of course his drink of choice. John Wick is seen drinking a bottle of Blanton's at the Continental hotel, following a good old fashioned gunfight.
What company owns Yellowstone bourbon? ›| Type | Bourbon whiskey |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Limestone Branch Distillery |
| Country of origin | Kentucky, United States |
| Alcohol by volume | 46.5 |
| Proof (US) | 93 |
Founded in 1795 and passed down through one family for the past seven generations, Jim Beam is the world's best-selling bourbon.
What bourbon does Matthew mcconaughey promote? ›
Longbranch Bourbon and the ranch experience itself represent the culmination of a long journey for the award-winning actor — from bourbon fan to bourbon creative director, of course. “I drank Wild Turkey before I partnered with the Russells,” he said of working with Wild Turkey's famed family owners.
What is the best bourbon for a crowd? ›Woodford Reserve
It's no surprise that Woodford Reserve's easy-drinking straight bourbon whiskey was the most recommended bottle by our surveyed bartenders. “It's a real crowd-pleaser,” says Greene.