Four Roses Single Barrel
Kirin Brewery Company (Four Roses Distillery, est. 1888) · Four Roses Distillery, Lawrenceburg, Kentucky
Four Roses Single Barrel is the product of the most obsessive production system in bourbon. While every other distillery works from a single mash bill and a single yeast strain, Four Roses developed two distinct mash bills and five proprietary yeast strains — creating ten unique recipes, each with its own flavor fingerprint. The standard Single Barrel uses recipe OBSV: the high-rye mash bill (35% rye — among the highest in Kentucky) paired with the V yeast strain, which contributes delicate fruit and cream. At 100 proof, it has the structure to showcase every layer of that complexity. The result is a bourbon that tastes like it was engineered by someone who couldn’t stop asking “what if?” — because it was.
Kit Aromas
Nose
Ripe plum, maraschino cherry, brown sugar, vanilla bean, toasted rye bread, and a floral lift that’s unmistakably Four Roses.
Palate
Full and layered — caramel apple, baking spice, rye pepper, cocoa dusted berries, maple, and a creamy mid-palate sweetness balanced by assertive rye structure.
Finish
Long and complex with lingering cinnamon, dried fruit, oak tannin, and a dry spice that slowly fades into warm caramel.
- Mash Bill
- 60% Corn / 35% Rye / 5% Malted Barley (Recipe OBSV)
Cocktail Suggestion
Cocktail — The Ten-Recipe Old Fashioned: 2 oz Four Roses Single Barrel · 1 bar spoon demerara syrup · 2 dashes Angostura bitters · 1 dash orange bitters. Stir with ice 30 seconds, strain over a large cube. Garnish with an expressed orange peel. The 100-proof backbone and rye spice make this an Old Fashioned that needs nothing else.
Food Pairing
Pair with: Pecan-crusted pork chops with apple chutney. The bourbon’s fruit-forward profile and rye spice mirror the pecan crust, while the caramel sweetness plays against the tart chutney.
Be the first to comment.
Leave a comment
Kentucky Owl Batch 11 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Kentucky Owl
Kentucky Owl Batch 11 is a masterclass in blending for depth without losing elegance. The char influence is prominent but never domineering, and the cask-strength proof amplifies rather than overwhelms. A bourbon that rewards patience and a few drops of water.
Yellowstone Limited Edition 2024 Kentucky Straight Bourbon
Yellowstone
This limited edition blend leverages the contrast between younger high-rye punch and the deep, integrated wood character of its older components. The result is a bourbon that showcases char-level influence without becoming tannic. A compelling study in what extended barrel contact can achieve.
Calumet Farm 8 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Calumet Farm
A polished, approachable bourbon that lets eight years of Kentucky heat do the talking. The oak influence is present but restrained, with enough sweetness and spice to hold interest. A solid daily drinker that punches well above its price.
Stellum Lyra Single Barrel Cask Strength Bourbon Whiskey
Stellum
Stellum's single barrel program lets the cask do the talking, and this bottling delivers a bourbon where every sip reflects the depth of its barrel interaction. The high proof carries tremendous flavor density without bitterness. A serious sipper that rewards patience.