Four Roses uses two different mashbills and five different yeast strains to create ten different bourbon recipes. Their standard 100 proof Single Barrel Bourbon uses one recipe, their standard Small Batch blends together four of the recipes, and Small Batch Select blends together six of the recipes. Limited releases and private selections can vary from the standard products, but generally maintain the same number of recipes as their standard counterpart. The Small Batch Select is the premium choice for an extraordinary culinary experience. This liquor offers a harmonious blend of spicy rye, sweet caramel and powerful oak notes that make it incredibly versatile. Serve with grilled steak or smoked salmon to savour its full-bodied flavour; the sweetness in this bourbon will mirror the smokiness of both meats while adding contrast from its spicier rye undertones.

I found this bottle of Four Roses Single Barrel OBSV to be spicier than the Four Roses Small Batch, which I normally find to be a subtle balance of sweet and I often describe as a good beginner bourbon. I’d say a good description for the standard Single Barrel offering, is that it’s the grown-up version of their small batch product. The flavor is fuller, the finish is longer, and yes the price is higher, although justified in this case.

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Bourbon is a type of whiskey that needs to meet a few criteria to officially be called "bourbon." First, bourbon can only be made in America, and its grain bill must include at least 51 percent of corn. Bourbon always has to be aged in new charred oak barrels at no more than 125 proof (or 62.5 percent alcohol), and it's not allowed to include any additives or colorings. At a minimum, bourbon must be 80 proof (or 40 percent alcohol), with its mash never allowed to exceed 160 proof (or 80 percent alcohol).

These two mashbills could then be mixed with a single type of yeast to make two types of bourbon. Instead, Four Roses use 5 different types of yeast, each with their own unique flavour and corresponding letter code. Four Roses use these three ingredients, but use two different mashbill recipes instead of just one. Each recipe uses different ratios of corn, rye and malted barley. For ease, these are called Mashbill E and Mashbill B. See below.The distillation process for the Single Barrel begins with the selection of the three grains to make their Mashbill B recipe. This comprises 60% corn, 35% rye and 5% malted barley. Notably, they state ‘high rye’ on the label. Because this whisky isn’t blended, this 35% rye component plays a larger role in the bourbon, yielding a full bodied, spiced flavour.

Sales continued to thrive, but at the end of the 1950s, in a perplexing move, Seagram’s discontinued Four Roses bourbon in the U.S. Though still available in European and Asian markets, the bourbon didn’t return to American liquor stores until 2002. I can’t really think of many other bourbons in the same price range that are as good as this other than possibly Weller 12, Old Weller Antique and maybe Elijah Craig 12 which is being discontinued.

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For a delectable combination, you can’t go wrong with dark chocolate. The sweetness of the treat is harmonized perfectly by its bitterness, producing an entirely new flavour experience that’s sure to tantalize your taste buds! Cheeses are also amazing to pair this delicacy with; feel free to experiment with sharp cheddar, creamy brie or even pungent blue cheese – you won’t regret it! The Single Barrel is by nature, less complex due to it’s single recipe, single cask maturation. But as far a single-barrel bourbons go, this has to be one of the best we’ve tried. With a lengthy ageing period of eight years, it offers bold flavours of toffee, dried cherries, and oak.If you’re looking to try your first single-barrel bourbon, this would be a magnificent entry to the category. As one of the oldest single-barrel bourbons on the market, this would make an excellent foray into this style of American whiskey. Finish: The high-spice nature of the liquid remains with cinnamon and herbal flavors smoldering on my tongue. Fruity notes like citrus and cherry licorice offer a nice contrast, Tannins remain relatively light. Overall, the finish embodies the qualities the whole sip had – namely spice, fruit and herbal flavors.

Today, Four Roses is one of the most popular bourbon brands in the world and is exported to over twenty countries. It is known for its smooth and mellow taste, deriving from its balanced bourbon blends. Then at mid-range, they have the Small Batch and this Single Barrel offering which are both really solid. I have generally preferred this over the Small Batch in the past but you can get quite a bit of variation with it being a Single Barrel. Bottled in Bond: Under the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897, a bottled-in-bond spirit must be produced by one distillery in the same distilling season, then aged under federal supervision and cut and bottled at 100 proof.Sour Mash: A fermentation technique used by almost all bourbon distillers that employs pre-fermented mash from a previous distilling in a new mash. The sour mash prevents wild yeast from entering the mash and causing infections. At the higher price points, they have the Limited Edition range which are delicious and easier to get hold of than some other premium juice (Pappy & BTAC!).