Four Roses Single Barrel JE 1-2M is another great pick by the folks at Nasa Liquor in Houston, Texas. Picked from a single barrel of OBSV Four Roses whiskey – aged for 8 years and 9 months – this whiskey is a lovely sweet and spicy bourbon. Like its sibling, it embodies that brilliantly balanced complex character that Four Roses has become so well known for.
This Four Roses Single Barrel was of course distilled and barreled under the supervision and direction of the famous Jim Rutledge who left Four Roses in 2015. This departure means that in about 7-8 years you’ll see a lot of people talking about how their singe barrel was distilled by / under Jim and we won’t get a true taste of what the new guy, Brent Elliott, brings to the table. Which, If he’s smart we won’t notice a difference because he won’t change a thing. He’ll adopt the “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it” mentality because Four Roses definitely ain’t broke.
Four Roses Single Barrel JE 1-2M Info
Region: Kentucky, USA
Distiller: Four Roses
Mashbill: OBSV (60% Corn, 35% Rye, 5% Malted Barley)
Cask: New Charred Oak
Age: 8 Years and 9 Months
ABV: 59.7%
Cask Strength | Non-Chill Filtered | Natural Color
Warehouse: JE
Barrel: 1-2M
Price: $65
Four Roses Single Barrel JE 1-2M Review
EYE
Caramel
NOSE
Dark fruit, oak, spice, blackberry taffy, waxy licorice, brittle, copper and light bits of banana and molasses. Sweet and spicy, who could ask for more?
PALATE
Oak, cinnamon heavy spice, dark fruit, toffee, roasty notes, orange peels, nutmeg, chili pepper infused cocoa and a touch of mint. Sweet, spicy, robust and complex…. seriously what more could you ask for?
FINISH
Long and oaky with layers of cherries, cinnamon, leather and vanilla sweetness.
BALANCE, BODY & FEEL
Nicely balanced with a round body and a full have feel.
OVERALL
Four Roses Single Barrel JE 1-2M is a full spicy bourbon that balances on the precipice of a sweet ledge. It’s a Grade A (A- technically) specimen of why Four Roses Single Barrels are so heavily sought after these days. It’s a brilliant whiskey and it gets even better with water.
A splash opens it up and shows off even more oak and spice while simultaneously bolstering the sweet notes giving a complex rustic character. It’s quite a nice pick; I’m elated I got one and get to drink it all the time… at least until it’s gone that is.
SCORE: 91/100 (A-)
