Review #439 - Four Roses 10 Year OESV Single Barrel Barrel Strength - Bottle Republic Pick
Of the 10 (soon to be 20) bourbon recipes from Four Roses, the brand and their Master Distiller Brent Elliott describe 'OESV' as the most delicate. It uses the 'E' mashbill, which is the lower-rye version of the two current options: 75% corn, 20% rye, and 5% malted barley. It also uses the 'V' yeast strain, which is said to add some light, delicate fruit notes to the bourbon.
This specific single barrel pick was done by Bottle Republic, a New Jersey spirits retailer. This pick from early 2023 was aged for 10 years, and it comes from the third tier of Four Roses' TN rickhouse; the barrel strength bottling proof sits at a respectable 119.8, or 59.9% ABV.
Four Roses 10 Year OESV Single Barrel Barrel Strength - Bottle Republic Pick
USA - Bourbon
Price: USD 120 (2024)
Age Statement: 10 Years
Strength: 59.9% ABV
Details: OESV recipe, warehouse TN, barrel 21-3A, bottled January 2023
Tasting Methodology: Reviewed 3 times over 2 months from a sample. Tasted in a Glencairn glass each time, rested 10-15 minutes
Nose: Rich and oaky - leather, pepper, and some perfume in the oak. Lots of sweet notes, as well: brown sugar and molasses, a little bit of butterscotch at times. A soft floral note develops, and we get nutmeg, too.
Palate: A thick mouthfeel - heat and oak are the first sensations. Spicy, nutty, a little bit sharp and tannic at times, but also rich and leathery. Baking spices of vanilla and cardamom arrive, and in the background, there's more sweetness: cane sugar, molasses. In one tasting, there was a hint of red cherry.
Finish: The warmth from the palate continues, and mature oak notes are still the focus. Leather lingers, brown sugar adds a sweetness, and baking spices like nutmeg add a kick. We get some candied pecans, and in the background, a soft floral backbone. It's a medium-long finish.
Final Note: This is a classic single barrel from Four Roses, a classic bourbon profile in general - oak, brown sugar, and baking spice on full display. Lots of great leather flavors showing the age, and though they were more subtle, we enjoyed the floral flavors and soft nutty notes.
Value is okay - these single barrel versions of Four Roses at barrel strength are generally not cheap. For $120, there is a huge amount of competition; value is just alright, but generally, we've enjoyed all of our experiences with these SBBS products.
Our Average Rating: 7.8 / 10
In the current whisky landscape of increasing prices and variable quality, we've added a value rating to our reviews that relates to the score and the available pricing of each whisky. This roughly equates to a 0-10 scale; no reviews so far have exceeded a score of 10, although it is technically possible for the formula to produce a value rating higher than 10 with a high enough score and low enough price.
Value Rating: 6.35
About Us: We're a husband and wife review team living in the Midwest United States. Generally, our reviews and tasting notes will be a compilation of both of our experiences with a whisky over several tasting sessions.
