Four Roses

One of the oldest Bourbon brands around, Four Roses dates back to a trademarking in 1888, although it is said a whiskey of that name was sold from before the 1860s. Legend has it that it is named after a founder, Rufus Mathewson Rose, his brother Origen, and their two sons. However other sources have a Paul Jones Jr as the founder.

Regardless, a distillery was built in 1910 in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky to produce Four Roses, although it was originally named the Old Prentice Distillery - a stunning building in Spanish Mission-style architecture, the distillery is listed on the US National Register of Historic Places.

Purchased by drinks giant Seagram in 1943, for nearly 40 years Four Roses wasn't actually available as a straight Bourbon - instead being a brand name for blended whiskies - until it was eventually 'relaunched' in 1994. Eventually bought by the Japanese Kirin Brewery in 2002, Four Roses was refocussed into a Straight Bourbon Whiskey.

Whereas the Original (previously known as Yellow Label) was a combination of 2 mashbills coupled with 5 different yeast strains to create 10 different 'recipes', the Small Batch Select sees Master Distiller Brent Elliott select 6 of those recipes that have been aged for a minimum of 6 years and up to 9 years, bottled at a slightly higher ABV of 52%, as opposed to the 'standard' Small Batch which see 4 receipes bottled at 45%.

The identical bottle and the words 'Small Batch' on the label imply this is just a higher ABV Small Batch - it's absolutely not, this is next level in terms of quality. I used to think the Single Barrel was the best of the core range, but upon tasting this I quickly realised I was sorely wrong! The depth, the complexity, the interplay of sweet, spice, nuttiness, warming oak - it's just incredible stuff. I'd go so far as to say this is better than the likes of Blanton's, and represents superb value for money!