Four Roses 17yr 5mo “Distillery Visitor Center Opening” | September 2012

Nose: Sweet with spicy floral notes on the front.  Then hotness that comes, but unlike most that seem to give you the burning sensation in the nostril, it seems to get denser without overwhelming you – finishing with a slight grassiness. 

 

Mid-palate:  Is it possible to have something dense but yet simple as well?  It feels like there are so much depth and layers, but nevertheless, it feels simplistic - like watching an excellent athlete perform an incredible move effortlessly. There is a distinctive grassiness that reminds me of Sazerac 18yr (a subtle light earthy tones) yet also has the element of a heat reminiscence of GTS (forceful strong strength that may overwhelm if one isn't prepared). When I try to pinpoint the profile, it seems to be multiple notes intermingled together and swirls in the mouth, a comprehensive mouthfeel that offers a numbing impact and seems to overwhelm.  Sweetness, bitterness, sour, floral, grassy… There are things that permeate the mouth, but this is on a level I don’t recall much outside of a few choice items. As I close my eyes, I can still feel the tingleness and tipsiness - despite having just my two micro-pours (3/16 oz). Beyond all that, the heat profile is like a gentle wave that goes back and forth - such a great item to heat manipulate. The flavor lingers much longer than everything is done. 

 

Verdict:  This is like a bottle of Al Young on steroids. Need I say more?  I think I just found my new all time Four Rose bottle.  

 

 

Comments

  1. Andrew ClaytonAugust 23, 2020 at 10:05 AM

    Could you possibly refrain from referencing other whiskey products when reviewing? I personally find it hard to relate. When you talk about something I haven’t had the opportunity to try then the notes are irrelevant to me. “Grassy like saz 18,” isn’t something I can understand.

    I hope that didn’t come across as harsh. I truly appreciate the way you have talked about certain things in the past.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Q's DepotAugust 23, 2020 at 11:57 AM

      Potentially, this may help. Saz18’18 reminded me of the open plains with a slight breeze that grazes me as I smell the grass joining the air during the gust. Where one taste the earth by the smells. Saz18’18 is smooth because of its proof with the earth notes of the rye but subtleties that make you look deeper into it because of the lower smooth proofing.

      But it is understandable that some descriptor can’t be easily related when someone hasn’t tasted those particular items - similar to the George T. Stagg as well.

      Delete

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