Kentucky Whiskey at its Finest: Single Casks from an Old Guard Distiller
“We are proud to have such an unflinching partner willing to bottle bourbon with no bull.”
—David Othenin-Girard, K&L SoCal Spirits Buyer
The holidays are here, and so is our most recent set of K&L exclusive barrels from the Kentucky whiskey legend Four Roses. These cask-strength bottlings are consistently a huge hit and fly off the shelf at breakneck speeds, hence this is one of those “catch-it-while-you-can” types of offers. Our SoCal Spirits buyer, David Othenin-Girard, along with Four Roses’ Al Young and Mandy Vance, hand selected this set after blind tasting through several casks at the distillery. While previous casks were zeroed in on considerations of the recipe, age, warehouse, and alcohol strength—these four were selected solely on taste. And we must say, this is absolutely the way to go, as this is arguably the finest set of Four Roses casks that we’ve brought to market to date.
For more on the these single barrel exclusives, check out our recent Spirits Journal post.
Each possesses its own unique profile with flavors ranging from mint, citrus, toasty oak, caramel, roasted nuts, and so much more. All are unequivocally delicious. The process behind each is equally as compelling as the stuff in the bottle. These are perfect holiday gifts for the Bourbon drinker in your life and will also make a terrific addition to your own collection. We’ve already sold through a significant portion, so seriously, don’t wait on these, as once they are gone, they’ll be gone for good.
Four Roses K&L Exclusive OBSQ (9 Years Old, 4 Months) Single Barrel Cask Strength Bourbon Whiskey (750ml) ($69.99)
Another stupendous cask from our friends in Lawrenceburg. The very special whiskies coming out of Four Roses today are some of Kentucky’s very best. They do a lot of things the old way. While their competition has chosen to move forward with modern accoutrement, Four Roses continues to insist on old practices that set the product apart from the pack. First, there is the proper souring step, yeast cultivated each week thereby offering depth of character unsurpassed by other modern distillers. Cypress fermenters, slow low distillation, and a lower than standard fill proof are just some of the quality components that make Four Roses the best bourbon money can buy. Now take the fact that all their great bourbons go into just three standard products and you have a recipe for some incredibly high-quality store picks. They’re they only big Kentucky producer that let us bottle proper cask-strength bourbon for our store picks. We picked these out in Cox’s Creek with the great Al Young and the wonderful Mandy Vance. The perfect comparison with our OESQ cask. The same floral yeast strain, but with the more full-bodied and spicy, high rye mash bill.
David Othenin-Girard | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 29, 2018
Tasting the OESQ & OBSQ together with Al Young this spring was a totally eye-opening experience. You have to taste blind when Al is there, and so you’re more attuned to the links between the various whiskies in front of you. I don’t think I’d have picked these out as having the same yeast strain blind, but we DID identify both as being absolutely delicious. The OBSQ feels much more classically Four Roses, evidence of the link to the standard single barrel, which is the OBSV. Much less floral than the OESQ and with a big, dark spice on the nose. Complex and savory with subtle hints of mint and sweet tea. The palate builds on the powerful nose with a bold, peppery spice with the herbal-side taking over through the middle. Instead of going astringent or bitter on the finish, a sweet salt water taffy flavor pops up to balance things out. This one might be my favorite of the last batch.
Jeffrey Jones | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 26, 2018
This is a delicious and very interesting single barrel of bourbon. The nose is subtle with the expected caramel notes, but there are pleasant, subtle, woody aromas that are unique and fun to smell. In the mouth, it is full and round, but the flavors are subtle and inviting. This is a bottle to think about and enjoy.
William Beare | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 09, 2018
This whiskey has a smoothness that defies any expectation you might have based on its high rye content (35% of the bill) and extra-potent ABV. The nose has some high-proof heat, but it almost instantly gives way to a very flowery, earthy profile. Think rose petals in the dirty hands of a hard-worked farmer. That garden perfume is the main event here, balanced by some nice rye spiciness.
Andrew Whiteley | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 08, 2018
For those who want to investigate how a single change in production can dramatically change a whiskey, this barrel compared with the OESQ is a perfect side by side. Same facility, same straight whiskey distillation, same floral yeast strain. The only difference here is the high rye mashbill, and boy what a difference. Instead of the light and fruity components taking center stage, the spicier, more full bodied rye dominates and the sweet banana and floral nectar flavors move back into the finish. It’s like drinking the OESQ in reverse. Both exceptional whiskies, two totally different experiences.
Four Roses K&L Exclusive OESQ (9 Years Old, 8 Months) Single Barrel Cask Strength Bourbon Whiskey (750ml) ($69.99)
The OESQ recipe offers a floral and fruity whiskey with a medium body.
David Othenin-Girard | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 29, 2018
Nothing is more fun than tasting at the Four Roses bottling facility, and this barrel and the sister cask are easily the most interesting bourbons to taste head-to-head right now. Similar in age and yeast strain, the only factors that set them apart are the mash bill and the warehousing. Of course, every barrel is unique, but few comparisons will exemplify the importance of mash bill and yeast strain like tasting these two casks. The OESQ is really the complete package. The “low” rye mash bill is still packed to the brim with spice, but tamed by a huge aromatic profile of roses and leather. I typically HATE floral whiskies, but this doesn’t seem perfuming or astringent and adds subtlety rarely present in Four Roses. The palate is a nice contrast to the aromatics of the nose, bringing in dark, dusty tannin and herbal honey to balance. An old school feeling whiskey that evokes the wild west for some reason. Not a bad thing to find in the saloon.
Jeffrey Jones | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 12, 2018
This single cask smells very inviting. The nose is intense with a perfume like sweetness that is impressive and pleasing. In the mouth is is complex with hints of vanilla, spice, dark caramel and dried fruits. Deep and delicious this is one of the best bourbons that I have tasted this year so far.
William Beare | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 09, 2018
A nose like an old dusty cedar-box dripping with caramel, with traces of fruit hiding in the wings. This whiskey smells like riffling through your grandfathers old steamer trunk. Hints of dried red apple and sweet burning wood bulk up an already rich and full flavored body. All the notes you want a classic bourbon to hit, but with an exotically old-school hook that keeps things interesting. Earthy and delicious.
Andrew Whiteley | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 08, 2018
OESQ is always one of my favorite recipes from Four Roses. In particular it’s the Q that I’m always so enthralled with. The careful cultivation of 5 different strains of yeast at Four Roses combined with a proper cask strength bottling makes for the most interesting barrel selections in all of Kentucky. The Q yeast strain provides exceptional floral and fruity notes. In many ways, it reminds me of the delicate flavors of fine Cognac, but then, like a freight train, it hits you with all the body, power, and spice of Kentucky’s finest export.
Four Roses K&L Exclusive OBSV (9 Years Old, 3 Months) Single Barrel Cask Strength Bourbon Whiskey (750ml) ($69.99)
This OBSV is more evidence that Four Roses’ bourbons don’t need to be 10+ years old to be superlatively good. The aromatics here are big, boisterous spice and dark, stewed fruits balanced by slight hints of graphite and earthy, dry forest notes. The richest, most unctuous palate imaginable that gets hot in the middle in the best way, but goes down without any edges. This is the real deal, and nothing on the shelf touches this 120 proof monster for the price in terms of power, complexity, and balance.
Four Roses K&L Exclusive OESF (9 Years Old, 4 Months) Single Barrel Cask Strength Bourbon Whiskey (750ml) ($69.99)
OESF is not a recipe we see very often on the tasting floor, but I was happy to find out that this special little whisky was indeed a gorgeous minty little F strain. Tasting blind makes you appreciate the nuances of these special recipes even more. The fresh, herbal quality on the nose is balance wonderfully by a dark, roasted oak component. With air, gorgeous flamed citrus peel, subtle almond butter aromas, and a bold oak spice emerge. An absolute stunner, and the driest of these three barrels.
David Othenin-Girard | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 29, 2018
OESF is quickly becoming one of the most sought-after yeast strains. What’s particularly special about this one is that it follows exactly what you’d expect from the F yeast strain. Big, minty, herbal, spicy, and complex, I love that intensity on the nose. On the palate, herbal side takes a back seat to the fresh mint and red berry fruit. A little easier going and easily approachable enough for even the most amateur bourbon lover, yet not at all timid. If you like a minty bourbon then we’ve found the cask for you.
