Four Roses Releases 2020 Limited Edition Small Batch Bourbon

Bourbon enthusiasts are in for quite the treat this autumn as Four Roses readies its annual Limited Edition Small Batch release. Originally debuting in 2008, the 2020 iteration is a non-chill filtered, barrel-proof whiskey clocking in at 111.4 proof. The liquid is a combination of four separate recipes from the Kentucky distillery, ranging in age from 12 to 19 years. A total of just over 14,000 hand-numbered bottles will make their way to retailers in late September. Here’s a first look at what’s inside the glass—and how you can get your hands on it.

What Does It Taste Like?

First, let’s get some of the technical details squared away. As fans of the brand are well-aware, Four Roses works with ten distinct recipes of bourbon. They represent two distinct grain bills—a high-rye known as ‘Mashbill B’, and a higher-corn offering known as ‘Mashbill E’ — each fermented using one of 5 different house yeast strains.

Now to get super geeky. The liquid streams selected by master distiller Brent Elliott include the following: a 12-year-old OBSV (comprising 30% of the blend), characterized by its delicate fruit notes; a 12-year-old OESV (25%), offering more of the same, but with less rye; a 16-year-old OESK (25%), which veers more towards the baked spice space, and a 19-year-old OBSK (20%), the most tongue-tingling—and complex—of the lot.

“Each batch in this year’s limited edition bottling is an exceptional whiskey that could have stood on its own as a single barrel offering,” according to Elliott. “But in this case the sum is even greater than the parts – as together these bring a perfect balance of bright, vibrant flavors and aromas from the 12 and 16-year-old barrels combined with the oak tones and aged expressions from the 19- year-old batch.”

He is biased, to be sure. Yet it’s difficult to refute this glowing assessment. Elliott, after all, has won ample praise not just as a distiller, but as a world-class blender. It certainly shows in the execution here: citrus zest, orchard fruit and honeyed aromas all carry through into the sip—where ripened berries swirl with cinnamon, ceding to barrel spice in the finish.

This particular bottling remains high on the list of most sought after annual autumn releases. And the 2020 edition will go a long way in justifying the inevitable excitement. Even at the lofty retail price of $150, it won’t last long at your local liquor store. Which brings us to the most pressing concern….

How Do I Get It?

Well, being aware of the imminent release places you in a better position than most. Look for it to drop in the last week of September. Start making inquiries with your preferred retailers now. Beyond that—if you plan on being in Bourbon Country anytime soon, Four Roses is holding an online lottery on its website. Starting today, through September 9th, you can register to buy a bottle of the allocated whiskey. Randomly drawn winners will be able to schedule an appointment to pick up their purchase directly from the distillery at any point throughout the remainder of the calendar year.