Bourbon & Bars

New Four Roses limited edition Small Batch bourbon ‘something you’ve never tasted before’

The 2024 version of Four Roses’ annual limited edition Small Batch bourbon is unlike any that’s come before in 16 previous years, according to the Kentucky distillery.

“Each year, we strive to bring a new and exciting experience to your glass by blending variations of our distinct recipes to create something you’ve never tasted before from Four Roses,” said master distiller Brent Elliott in a statement. “This year, the recipes we hand-selected have created something truly vibrant, bright and unique, while still maintaining a nice delicate spice at the end.”

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Here are the details on what’s inside the new bottle: Four batches, aged 12 to 20 years, were picked for the 2024 Limited Edition Small Batch: a 12-year-old bourbon from the OBSV recipe, a 15-year-old OESK, a 16-year-old OESF and a 20-year-old OBSV.

The letters distinguish one of Four Roses’ 10 distinct bourbon recipes, created with two mashbills and five yeast strains.

The 2024 Four Roses Limited Edition will be released on Sept. 14 at the distillery visitors centers in Lawrenceburg and in Cox’s Creek. It has a suggested retail price of $220.
The 2024 Four Roses Limited Edition will be released on Sept. 14 at the distillery visitors centers in Lawrenceburg and in Cox’s Creek. It has a suggested retail price of $220. Provided

This year’s version, according to Elliott, was chosen from 20-plus test blends.

“The OESF was very interesting. I was trying to work with that from the beginning,” he said, crediting it for bringing dark cherry notes to the bright, tangy, fruity result. “It’s almost like Juicy Fruit, almost like cotton candy on the nose.”

The final version is “very complex, very fun to drink because of how it unfolds,” he said.

Tasting notes, where to buy: 2024 Four Roses Small Batch

According to Four Roses, the new 2024 version has notes of creamy vanilla, honey and brown sugar on the nose, with ripe berries and citrus, with herbal notes and spice on the finish.

It’s 108.2 proof, bottled non-chill filtered.

The 2024 Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch Bourbon is a blend of 12-year-old OBSV, 15-year-old OESK, 16-year-old OESF and 20-year-old OBSV bourbons.
The 2024 Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch Bourbon is a blend of 12-year-old OBSV, 15-year-old OESK, 16-year-old OESF and 20-year-old OBSV bourbons. Provided

This year’s edition is limited to 16,680 750ml bottles, with a suggested retail price of $220.

It will be available to buy beginning on Sept. 14 at the Four Roses Distillery Visitor Center in Lawrenceburg and at the Visitor Center at Four Roses Warehouse & Bottling Facility in Cox’s Creek. It also will be available at select retailer stores across the country starting in September.

Four Roses master distiller Brent Elliott blended the bourbons used for the 2024 Limited Edition Small Batch from four batches aged 12 to 20 years.
Four Roses master distiller Brent Elliott blended the bourbons used for the 2024 Limited Edition Small Batch from four batches aged 12 to 20 years. Provided

“This is to me one of the most special things we do all year,” Elliott said. “It’s my favorite, the one chance we get to be creative, to show what we can do with our best barrels.”

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Janet Patton
Lexington Herald-Leader
Janet Patton covers restaurants, bars, food and bourbon for the Herald-Leader. She is an award-winning business reporter who also has covered agriculture, gambling, horses and hemp. Support my work with a digital subscription
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