Four Roses Private Selection Single Barrel Barrel Strength Bourbon (OESQ)

OESQ (9 yr 6 mo 114.4 proof) VS OBSQ (9 yr 8 mo 121.6 proof). Recording matchup here. OESQ nose: light cherries and heavy caramel. Overall, very light nose. OBSQ nose: much different nose on this one. A lot more floral on this one. Some honey too OESQ palate: hot on the mid palate. Not too much going on. Falls a little flat honestly. Maybe a tiny tiny bit of caramel but mostly flat. Not what I was expecting for my first ever OESQ taste. Spicy on the second try for this one. OBSQ palate: a little more flavor I think but not much. Also this one falls flat for me with an interesting flavor. Some black pepper comes through on the second try. OESQ finish: short and peppery finish. OBSQ finish: shortish finish and a little peppery but overall medium Overall: the OBSQ is higher proof and drinks about the same as the OESQ. Also seems to be a little more complex with a better finish. OBSQ definitely wins but this recipe is probably not my favorite. Very similar to wild turkey products.

So this is an 11 year pick that I picked up a while back from the Cox's Creek warehouse and bottling center. Master Distiller Brent Elliot selected this barrel himself. So looking back I should have bought 2 bottles instead of this 1 as it is a dandy. The scent starts out with a cherry pastry that is still so fresh and warm. The next scent is very floral and smells like walking into a huge conservatory that is nice and warm but filled with plants that are thriving. Lastly that Q yeast always gives me the smell like an antique shop or my grandparents basement back in the 90s. I mean it just gives all good vibes before you begin your sip. Taste has honey, cherry, caramel, toffee and a little vanilla mixed in. Not really complex but the flavors all pop and are balanced quite well. Finish hangs around longer than other Q bottles I've had in the past. Finish is sweet and floral. There is a little clove, cinnamon and cherry as well which I enjoy greatly.

Gomer's Kansas City store pick, 9 yrs 11 mo, 116.2 proof. I've been sitting on this bottle for a while, so not available for sale anymore. Long legs in the glass. This is not what I expected at all from OESQ. The nose is definitely floral and a bit fruity and sweet, but that's where the OESQ profile ends. On the palate, this is full of fall spice, cinnamon and vanilla. Pepper burns the lips, tongue and chest and holds on and on. The finish on this whiskey continues with the spices and pepper and lasts quite a while and at the end finally reveals a touch of floral, rose hips essence. This bourbon tells you it's high proof up front and won't let you forget. Definitely not for the casual drinker, but absolutely delicious.

Neat. Neck pour. Binny’s pick, ~11year. First time with a OESQ. Vanilla frosting, chocolate and strawberries on the nose. Almost reminds me of a crepe with a layer of baking spice behind it. That chocolate note is my favorite aspect. Thick and viscous on the tongue. All brown sugar and baking spices. Burnt caramel and chocolate on taste. The longer I sit with it this floral component becomes more prominent on the nose and taste. It’s delightful but just okay. Somewhat of a let down for my first Four Roses Barrel Strength Store pick experience. That chocolate note salvaged the entire experience.

The aroma, while not super complex, is extremely interesting. Initial nosing gives strong notes of overripe bananas, rose petals, cinnamon, musty oak, apple skins, and slight acetone. On the palate it’s an explosion of bananas, cinnamon candies, and brown sugar, with the floral elements easing in on the finish, along with a not unpleasant note of barrel bitterness. Further tasting brings out notes of buttery cookies, toffee, and an undertone of deep earthiness. A typically delicious example of a Four Roses barrel pick. Total Wine barrel pick: 55.2% ABV; aged 10 years

Aaahh the oak, it's heavenly. The rye is very present, hard to believe this is their low rye at 20%! Delicious pour but possibly better with less rye in my opinion. For me, this is hard to come by and expensive. A bit of a splurge bottle that feels ever so worth it. The single barrel at 50% is good but this one is great. I hope to get another once this is gone. Single barrel, barrel strength 57.1% Aged 10 years 7 months