Four Roses, Five Stars

The Four Roses Small Batch 2015 Limited Release

Four Roses 2015 Release is a limited edition and highly collectible bourbon that marked the retirement of master distiller Jim Rutledge. The small batch releases are comprised of hand selected bourbons resulting in a whiskey that has been recognised at the highest level, including being named American Whiskey of the Year by Whiskey Advocate for two years running in 2012 and 2013.

The 2015 Limited Edition Small Batch release is extra special as it marks the retirement, as mentioned, of Jim Rutledge. With a career spanning an impressive 49 years, this stunning release could not be a more appropriate achievement for the man credited as being the most influential force behind the revival of the Four Roses brand around the turn of the millennium.

Four Roses are famed for creating a four-character system that communicates precisely what is in a whiskey's original grain bill and which of the five proprietary yeast strains were used during the mash fermentation. The 2015 Limited Edition Small Batch is a blend of four spirits;

OBSK - 16 years

OESK - 15 years

OESK - 14 years

OBSV - 11 years

The first character 'O' indicates the whiskey was distilled at the Four Roses distillery in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky with the third character 'S' meaning “straight,” as in straight whiskey.

The second character indicates the mash bill. The 'E' mash bill is 75% corn, 20% rye, and 5% malted barley, and the 'B' mash bill is 60% corn, 35% rye, and 5% malted barley.

The fourth character represents the yeast strain. Four Roses uses five different yeast strains in its products. This spirit uses two of those: the 'K' strain, described as “light spiciness, light caramel, and full-bodied;” and the 'V' strain, known for “light fruitiness, light vanilla caramel, and creamy.”

You can learn more about what these codes mean at the Four Roses Distillery website here. Or to have this explained by our friends at Top Whiskies, check out this video here.

This month's Dream Whiskies winner will receive a bottle of this fantastic bourbon along with a JoyJolt crystal decanter and whisky glass set. Good luck :)

Nose: Ripe cherry, caramel custard, fresh magnolia

Palate: Spicy cinnamon, clove, orange peel, apricot, light honey

Finish: Long, velvety finish, lingering hints of creamy vanilla, fresh.