Each September, Four Roses releases a special edition barrel Strenght Small Batch based on its 10 recipes.
Four Roses combines five proprietary yeast strains with two different mashbills - called "B" and "E" - to create 10 different Bourbon recipes.
The Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch 2022 Recipe
Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch 2022 is composed of a blend of the 4 main recipes produced by the distillery and selected yeasts.
The B mash is the heavier of the two, with 60% corn and 35% rye. E mash, with a blend of 75% corn and 20% rye, brings bright grain flavours and aromas. Malted barley makes up the remaining 5% of both mashes.
The main recipe included in this limited edition is a 20 year old reserve brewed with the OBSV recipe from the distillery's "B" mash.
The OBSV is the most rounded and versatile of their recipes in all the reserves. The additional rye from the B strain creates the dominant flavour with this recipe. The bright, slightly spicy character is evident at any age, and the delicate fruit flavours produced by the V yeast strain complete the complex palate with flavours of apricot, pear, and plum. As this recipe ages in the barrel, the typical caramel and vanilla flavours develop, but the rich cocoa, cinnamon, and nutmeg flavours are especially pronounced in the OBSV recipe. Overall, the OBSV recipe is rich, bright, and complex, with a long, honeyed finish.
The second recipe is a 15 year old reserve made with OESK. OESK combines the rye mash "E" with its slightly spicy yeast strain "K".
The third recipe is a 14 year old OESF , made with the "E" mash and the F yeast strain, which adds herbal notes.
Finally, the blend is complemented by a 14 year old reserve from the OESV recipe, from the "E" mash and made with the "V" yeast, which contributes fruity notes.
Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch 2022 brings together a unique selection of recipes and yeasts.
The Brewing
According to Brent Elliott, master distiller at Four Roses:“From the beginning of crafting this year’s limited edition small batch Bourbon, two particular batches stood out to me as potential candidates to go into the blend - a 14-year-old recipe batch that is remarkably smooth and rich on the palate, and a 20-year-old recipe batch that exhibits the best fruit barrel and spice qualities of extra aged Bourbon,” said Brent Elliott, Four Roses Master Distiller."
“The test blends revolved around those two batches until we landed on a liquid with a perfect balance that is unique, layered, mellow, and elegant.”
The 2022 Limited Edition Small Batch Bourbon offers delicate aromas of brown sugar, dark cherries and seasoned oak. The bourbon is complemented by the warm flavours of apricot and barrel tones that melt
into a delicate and distinct finish, boasting creamy vanilla, ripe berries and light cinnamon.
The 2022 Edition
Composed of 4,600 hand-numbered bottles for the whole world
