2020 Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch (LESmB)

 

Nose: A slightly spicy nose with a backdrop of sweetness. Somehow, it reminds me of a tunnel; when you draw air through the nose, the bourbon itself seems to come closer to you - like riding thought on a motorcycle. A little swirl brings out even more of the sweetness and settles to a honeydew like feeling – nectar.

Mid-palate: A immediate spice coupled with a spike of bitterness, more strength than your standard Limited-Edition Small Batch expression – more reminiscence of a flavorful four rose barrel strength bottle. A second sip carries with it more essence of the mid-palate. In many ways, this tastes more like a rye than your standard high-rye bourbon—notes of grassiness in the finish. The flavor and warmth that accompanies this bourbon long endure past the first complete sips – a phenomenal fireplace bourbon. A sustaining heat profile allows you to play with, thinning the flavor out and offering a warming sensation of a Kentucky embrace. I find myself feeling intrigued the more I consume this item. On the last sip, the floral characteristic that is familiar to most four rose expression shows up. And that flavor continues to last long after the last morsel. 

Verdict: A friend said to me that it reminds him of a Buffalo Trace Antique Collection (BTAC) item – he is right. A last sip separate from the first pour penetrates the initial heat into the mid-palate with the depths of flavor and balance; resemblance to a George T. Stagg expression with a more floral twist. This year’s express seems to diverge from previous years in terms of smoothness and delicateness one may think of when it comes to the LESmB, but is never the less an excellent bourbon.

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