Four Roses Small Batch
Bourbon is as much a part of Super Bowl Day in the USA as scotch is on Robert Burns Day in Scotland. For today's Super Bowl match day, we have chosen a standard bourbon that can be enjoyed neat or in a cocktail.
The panel
Mean 72.0 · spread 6
Value for money 4/5
- Distillery
- Four Roses
- Type
- Straight Bourbon
- Country
- USA
- Strength
- 45% ABV
- Character
- delicate
Tasting
Nose
The Four Roses Small Batch opens with a sweet note reminiscent of icing sugar, followed by caramel and maple syrup. Slightly nutty flavours with a splash of citrus join in. On the more savoury side, we find something reminiscent of sourdough and rye.
Palate
The bourbon is (surprisingly) spicy. Here, too, we think of rye. As in the nose, we find a caramel undertone, as well as sweet notes - similar to a honeydew melon. Of course, vanilla is also present in this bourbon! In general, the mouthfeel can be described as creamy, sweet and spicy.
Finish
The oaky, spicy finish is medium to long and has some roasted flavours and burnt corn on the cob.
Verdicts
Marcel
The Four Roses Small Batch is a pleasant companion for Super Bowl night, without stirring up any strong emotions. It shows character but remains somewhat restrained overall – more of a solid everyday bourbon than a standout. For a bit more excitement in the glass, I’d rather reach for Bulleit or Buffalo Trace next time.
Sascha
Despite decent spice and a creamy texture, the Four Roses Small Batch lacks the complexity needed to truly impress. The balance between sweetness and rye spice is well done, yet the overall profile feels somewhat linear and predictable. For the price-performance ratio, Bulleit 10 Year or Buffalo Trace offer more structure and depth.
What it is worth
We do not yet hold bottle-level auction results — that sits behind Whisky Hunter’s authenticated feed. What follows is the market for Four Roses as a whole, which sets the weather for this bottling without pricing it.
Latest mean bid £163 across 546 lots · 2024-08