Quick Blog Note - I've decided to add half points to my rating scale so that I have a bit more flexibility in where exactly to place bottles relative to each other. It made sense to go down that path as many whiskies fall somewhere in between.
In 2013 Four Roses celebrated their 125th anniversary by releasing this limited edition small batch bourbon. As with most of the limited releases by Four Roses, the 2013 release immediately became an impossible find and the bottles that did manage to reach the shelves were snatched up by bourbon enthusiasts... by the case. I had to wait for the European market allotment in early 2014 to get my hands on a bottle.
On the back of the bottle is a paragraph explaining the 2013 release:
"We're celebrating our 125th Anniversary with what our Master Distiller describes as 'what could be the best Bourbon we've ever put in a bottle.' This year's Barrel Strength Limited Edition Small Batch, created from 3 of our 10 distinct Bourbon recipes, welcomes you to the party with generous creamy vanilla, light oak and cherry cordial aromas. Bright splashes of raspberry and apricot greet the palate, giving way to subtle tones of nutmeg and cocoa. Then mellow flavors of cherry and vanilla bean define the long luxurious finish in such a way to make you wish you could toast our 125th every year for the next 125 or more. Cheers."
The recipes:
OBSV 18 years (featuring delicate fruit, spicy and creamy characteristics)
OBSK 13 years (rich in spiciness, full body)
OESK 13 years (spicy, full body)
PRODUCT SPECS
Whiskey Type - Bourbon
Alcohol By Volume (ABV) - 51.6% (103.2 proof)
Bottle Number - 10104 / 12468
NOSE
Big cherry notes
Vanilla
Rose petal
Light citrus (lemon & orange)
Red cedar wood
PALATE
Dark Chocolate
Cinnamon
Light Mint
Light Oak
Leather
FINISH
The finish is long with an medium mouthfeel. The transition from palate to finish happens rather quickly and a nice oak flavor asserts itself throughout the long finish.
FINAL IMPRESSIONS
I must admit with all the buildup of this bourbon that at my first tasting I wasn't all completely blown away with the flavor profile. I guess it is one of those things where you set expectations really high based on all the raving reviews. That being said, the first thing I noticed about this bourbon right out of the gate was its amazing nose. I could sit and smell it all night. It has such a rich and beautiful aroma. Over time (many months) the bottle really began to open up and I started to truly appreciate the greatness of this bourbon. The addition of a single ice cube or a few drops of water is where Four Roses 125th really opens and flexes its muscles. I suspect that the high alcohol percentage was suppressing this bourbon. There is no doubt that the addition of water releases the flavor. The complexity in the palate along with the length of the finish and a truly amazing nose ranks this in the top tier of the bourbon world.
PRODUCT RATING
5 out of 5
RATING SYSTEM
0 - hot dog water - nothing redeeming
1 - one dimensional - not complex and can be flat in areas
2 - entry level whiskey - a few highlights for a good value
3 - daily sipper - solid, well made product that is always enjoyed.
4 - big whiskey - complex layered flavors - amazing balance
5 - huge, exceptional, unique, one of a kind
I love anything whiskey that is cask strength or barrel proof. There is something magical in getting uncut and unfiltered whiskey right out of the barrel and into the glass. The aggressiveness of a barrel proof whiskey challenges you to engage in an intricate battle or to tuck tail and accept defeat. Blanton's Straight From The Barrel (SFTB) is no different in that regard. It is edgy and often times harsh on each level of the flavor profile all the way into and through the finish. But don't get me wrong, the flavors that it provides are extremely complex and layered. This is not by any means a one dimensional bourbon.
SFTB is the stronger and more aggressive brother to the standard single barrel Blanton's and the Gold Edition which I previously reviewed in Review #5. Like the Gold Edition the SFTB is not released in the United States. I have been lucky enough to purchase a bottle because I happen to live in Germany.
PRODUCT SPECS
Whiskey Type - Bourbon
Alcohol By Volume (ABV) - 65.85% (131.7 proof)
Bottling Date - 09-06-2012
Mashbill - Buffalo Trace's Mashbill #2 which is the higher Rye recipe.
Barrel Number - 68
Bottle Number - 173
Age - No age statement. Most likely around 8 years.
NOSE
Cherry Cola (Dr. Pepper)
Lemon sour candy
Cinnamon red hots
PALATE
Dark Peppermint chocolate
Rich Espresso
Heavy oak
Charcoal
Black licorice
FINISH
Bitter coffee
Charred Oak
Wood varnish
The finish is medium to long with an oily mouthfeel. The alcohol is very overwhelming with this bourbon so my advice is to liberally use water to proof it down.
FINAL IMPRESSIONS
There is no compromise with this barrel proof. A pure beast. There is something to be said of being challenged by a whisky and another to be said for finding the balance between a good challenge and enjoyment. SFTB really leaves no margin at all. I love the fact that it is non-chill filtered and left uncut. I wish more distilleries would provide whiskey at this level. It takes quite a bit of water to calm this down and even then it doesn't resemble the Blanton's Gold at all which shocks me. It makes me think that this version of Blantons may be slightly younger than the Gold. SFTB is really the first bourbon that I've encountered that doesn't have that overtly bourbon sweetness to it. It is a strong whiskey that has been left unpolished and is not for the feint of heart.
PRODUCT RATING
3.5 out of 5. I'm giving SFTB a rating of 3.5 because of its non chill filtered and barrel proof nature. I also believe that there is a lot of dark and complex savory flavors that make this unique for a bourbon. SFTB is far from a beginners whiskey and it lacks the overall balance and roundness qualities for which most high end bourbons are known. It is a challenge to get past the nose, palate and finish and it will confront you at every opportunity. If given the chance I always encourage people to try whiskey at barrel proof just to experience the potential that a whiskey has when uncut but this bourbon must be consumed at your own risk.
RATING SYSTEM
0 - hot dog water - nothing redeeming
1 - one dimensional - not complex and can be flat in areas
2 - entry level whiskey - a few highlights for a good value
3 - daily sipper - solid, well made product that is always enjoyed.
4 - big whiskey - complex layered flavors - amazing balance
5 - huge, exceptional, unique, one of a kind
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