Four Roses Small Batch Limited Edition 2023 Review [In Depth]
Four Roses Small Batch Limited Edition 2023
by: ALEX WANG
Founder, writer
Founder, writer
Four Roses Small Batch Limited Edition 2023 Details
Distillery: Four Roses
Type & Region: Bourbon, Kentucky, USA
Alcohol: 56% (the sample is oddly 56% ABV, the actual bottle may is 54%)
Composition: The blend is is provided, but not percentages
Aged: Blend of 12-25 years
Color: 1.5/2.0 on the color scale (auburn, polished mahogany)
Price: $150 (MSRP, although that kind of doesn’t matter)
From card included in the media box:
It’s that exciting time of year again at Four Roses when we release our annual Limited Small Batch Bourbon. This year, we are celebrating our 16th limited release as well as an important milestone – our 135th anniversary.
Every year when we share our Limited Edition Small Batch Bourbon, I get to reflect on what sets us apart from the rest, which are our ten recipes and our commitment to creating quality bourbon meant to be sipped and enjoyed amongst friends and family. This year more than ever, on the heels of our first brand refresh in nearly two decades, the care our team puts into each bottle is particularly top of mind. We hope you can feel our long-lasting passion with every sip.
I am excited to share this year’s unique blend of four exceptional batches that have been hand-selected and contribute to the rich and complex flavors of this bourbon. We hope you enjoy this bourbon as much as I enjoyed making it. We’re thrilled to have you be one of the first to give it a try!
Cheers,
Brent Elliott
Four Roses Small Batch Limited Edition 2023 overview
Four Roses is back yet again, like they are every year, with their newest release of their master-blended and crafted 2023 Four Roses Small Batch Limited Edition Bourbon (yay!). This year, Four Roses also celebrates their 135th anniversary, which is a huge milestone.
With every release, there’s always some really interesting and rare bourbon in the blend, and 2023’s release is no exception. Here’s the breakdown of the four batches of bourbon in this 135th anniversary Small Batch Limited Edition.
- OBSV: 25 year. 50.27% alc (60% corn, 35% rye, 5% barley / delicate fruit)
- OESV: 16 year. 49.9% (75% corn, 20% rye, 5% barley / delicate fruit)
- OESK: 14 year. 53.35% (75% corn, 20% rye, 5% barley / slight spice)
- OESV: 12 Year. 58.8% (75% corn, 20% rye, 5% barley / delicate fruit)
One of the many perks of receiving this media sample set is that Four Roses also provided samples of each of the 4 batch components, which also included information on the ABV! With that extra information, I did some math trickery (in Excel) to estimate one possible breakdown of the blend.
One of the many perks of receiving this media sample set is that Four Roses also provided samples of each of the 4 batch components, which also included information on the ABV! With that extra information, I did some math trickery (in Excel) to estimate one possible breakdown of the blend.
For additional reference, this was the blend for 2022
- OESF (10) – 14 years (75% corn, 20% rye, 5% barley / herbal notes)
- OESV (6) – 14 years (75% corn, 20% rye, 5% barley / delicate fruit)
- OESK (7) – 15 years (75% corn, 20% rye, 5% barley / slight spice)
- OBSV (1) – 20 years (60% corn, 35% rye, 5% barley / delicate fruit)
In 2023, the youngest bourbon in the blend is 12 years old, while it’s 14 years in 2022. But in 2023, the oldest component is 25 years old, while it’s 20 years old in 2022. Other than that, both releases use OBSV, OESK, and OESV, but 2022 also used OESF. So in a lot of ways, both blends take a similar-ish approach. Of course they’re still quite different and unique because they use different barrels (they can vary a lot) with different ages. At the same time, it’s not like Four Roses went off and used a ton of OBSK and OESO or other radically different mashbill + yeast combinations.
The other thing to note is that there will be a national lottery (or was depending on when you read this) with pickup at the distillery. The lottery went from August 22 to 28 (link here). Unfortunately, if you’re reading this it’s already too late because I posted this review after the lottery closed. If you don’t win the lottery, bottles will also be distributed across the US and be very allocated, so good luck obtaining a bottle. If you couldn’t tell already, I got a media sample so I don’t have to search high and low to get some to review. That said, I didn’t get a full bottle (I wish).
Let’s find out what the amalgamation of years of aging (including a 25 year old bourbon) and blending experience bring to the bourbon in this 2023 Four Roses Small Batch Limited Edition review.
As an FYI, I bought and use these Glencairn glasses for everything (they’re the best): Glencairn Crystal Whiskey Glass Set of 6, Set of 4, Set of 2, or just one. Full transparency, this is an affiliate link, so I may earn a commission if you buy this or something else from Amazon.
Four Roses Small Batch Limited Edition 2023 smell
Four Roses Small Batch Limited Edition 2023 starts with dark caramel, dried cherry, licorice, a lot of this effervescent and mature roasted oak (dark but not so burnt or grainy), plum, heavy cinnamon, vanilla, heaping spoonfuls of dark chocolate cocoa powder, ripe peach, coffee, and orange peel. Well that’s really interesting. It’s dark, roasty, fruity, chocolate-y, expressive, unique, and incredibly complex.
The age really shows with the refined and effervescent oak. I’ve never smelled a Four Roses like this, and I don’t think that I’ve ever smelled this type of effervescent oak that leaps out of the glass. It might have a little bit to do with the 56% ABV, which is strangely a tad hot, but it might be the combination of the super fragrant oak and the ABV that also make it a little more “singe-y” for my nostrils. Nonetheless, it’s a major improvement over the 2022 Small Batch Limited Edition
After swirling, I smell dense caramel, mature + refined + effervescent oak (and maybe something spicy), dried cherry and apricot, licorice, vanilla, tobacco, dark chocolate, roasted coffee, lemon peel, eucalyptus, and just a hint of dry grassiness that probably comes from the oak. This still has that effervescent oakiness that can slightly overwhelm my nose, a sort of spicy peppercorn / eucalyptus quality. It’s just a tad hotter than I would like.
If you couldn’t tell already, the scents are oak-forward. It’s not overpowered by oak, but it’s inescapable. All that oldness has some similarities to Hardin’s Creek Clermont, which is 17 years old, although I think Four Roses 2023 has improved expressiveness, balance, and character.
There are a lot of layers to take-in with this complex and mature bourbon. It’s not quite perfect, but it’s still a treat.
Four Roses Small Batch Limited Edition 2023 taste and aftertaste
On my first sip, I taste dense caramel, vanilla, toffee, dried apricot and cherry, roasted oak, licorice, cinnamon, roasted coffee, 95% dark chocolate, and tobacco. Four Roses Small Batch Limited Edition 2023 is a dark, sweet, and roasty bourbon that shows off the older components, but it’s not as fruity as it is in the scents. That’s not ideal for me.
The effervescent oak, which is dense and dark yet also bright and sparkly, is still there. That doesn’t surprise me at all. On the flip side, the balance is just a little bit too oaky and I don’t get any plum, or dark fruit in general, like I did in the scents. This tastes wonderful, but I’m still slightly disappointed. I hoped for something and it didn’t come, which feels like a tease.
After “chewing”, I taste caramel, vanilla cream, dried cherry, roasted mature oak, cinnamon, licorice, cocoa powder, tobacco, and some baked red apple. Four Roses Small Batch Limited Edition 2023 is still a very oaky bourbon, but it’s better balanced this time. Now there’s more sweetness and fruitiness to balance out all that oak, and it’s delicious.
To immediately contradict myself, as great as everything is, nothing quite pops and really stands out as exceptional. This is layered and complex, but also not that varied. The flavors focus on a few traits, but they all feel really well developed and ebb and flow. The oak doesn’t come as a solid wall, it comes in and out of the other traits so it’s not a one-dimensional surge. Still, I don’t think “wow” with any of this.
The finish starts with roasted caramel and vanilla, dark and mature oak, cinnamon, clove, coffee, and tobacco with lingering roasted oak, dark chocolate, and tobacco. It’s an oaky finish, albeit a refined one.
After “chewing” it leaves roasted caramel, roasted vanilla, mature and roasty oak, cinnamon, and tobacco. With so much old bourbon in the blend, all of that lingers for a while. They should call it Four Roses Cigar Blend.
The craziest / strangest thing is that I think I still prefer the OBSK sample from the Four Roses Ten Recipe Tasting Experience, which had a lot more dense fruity character and wasn’t so oak dominant. This is an excellent bourbon from Four Roses, but it’s not the best one I’ve ever had, or even the best one I’ve had this year.
I’ve unfortunately lost some Glencairn’s while in transit, and that made me very sad. So, I wised up and bought this Glencairn Travel Case that comes also comes with 2 glasses so I don’t need to worry so much about them breaking. I think it’s great, and I think you’ll love it too.
Seriously, if you already have glasses, protect them.Four Roses Small Batch Limited Edition 2023 Rating
I somewhat conflicted about 2023 Four Roses Small Batch Limited Edition. It’s an amazing bourbon that borders on “Top Shelf+”, but it pains me that I just can’t get there. To cut to the chase, it’s because I never feel an amazing “pop” in the flavors or get that “wow” moment that compels me to get to “Top Shelf+”. I really tried to find it.
Backing up though, all that older bourbon (and the oakiness that comes with it) are undoubtedly the stars of the show. It isn’t nearly as heavily oaky, roasty, and occasionally burnt as the Russell’s Reserve 13 Year or Hardin’s Creek Clermont 17 Year though. There’s a similar darkness and old oak sensation, but it also has a unique effervescence and brightness, kind of a mix of mature oak, smoke, alcohol, peppercorns, and other stuff I can’t quite identify that gives off such fragrant and “singe-y” quality. For the most part, I dig it.
I think that this falls just a little short of being truly special because of the fruitiness. It mostly nails it in the scents, with added layers of prune and dark fruit. The drawback is the fruitiness occasionally gets out-muscled in the flavors. “Chewing” opens up some fruitiness to alleviate some of it, but it still never feels as strong as it should be. Oaky bourbon can overcome some of that with a notable and delicious rush of flavor, like Hardin’s Creek Clermont did with a rush of caramel, apple, cherry, apricot, and coconut.
When it comes to “Top Shelf+” specifically, I need to think “wow”. Four Roses Small Batch Limited Edition 2023 has so many wonderful things going for it, but nothing leaps out to captivate me, to make me think “wow”.
I have a hot take, I prefer the OBSK sample from The Four Roses Tasting Experience Set. That particular sample was sublime, and by and far the best one I had in that set. When I had that OBSK, I was shocked and wowed at how dense, fruity, and layered it was. Every smell and sip was magical. And therein lies the problem – 2023 Four Roses Small Batch Limited Edition doesn’t give me that same type of feeling.
Even with all my mixed messages, I will say that I prefer this over the 2022 Four Roses release and 2023 Old Forester Birthday Bourbon, but I would still pick Hardin’s Creek Clermont as the superior old bourbon. If you’re actually able to pick from those three, I think you’re winning regardless. I’m just being a critical and grumpy reviewer.
To finish this all up, my review probably won’t change your mind, or anyone’s mind for that matter. You’re going to try your best to get a bottle, and I get it. This is still the type of high-quality bourbon that is difficult to find, so you try to get it if you can, and hopefully you choose to enjoy it. I enjoyed it a whole lot, enough to nearly rate it “Top Shelf+”, and that’s honestly all the information you need to know. If you obtain it, you’re very likely going to love it.
Meet the Author: Alex
I have far too much fun writing about whiskey and singlehandedly running The Whiskey Shelf to bring you independent, honest, and useful reviews, comparisons, and more. I’m proudly Asian American and can speak Cantonese, Mandarin, and some Japanese.
There are no sponsors, no media companies, and no nonsense. Support The Whiskey Shelf by Buying Me A Shot.
Shattered glass really sucks, so if you’re on the move, this Glencairn-like stainless steel snifter glass should survive your travels. Full transparency, this is an Amazon affiliate link, so I may earn a commission if you buy this or something else from Amazon.
BrüMate NOS’R, Double-Wall Stainless Steel Whiskey Nosing Glass – 7oz (Matte Black)
