Four Roses SB LE 2013 13 YO

The reviewed bottle is OBSK formula, i.e. 35% rye content, from barrel 3-3E. This whiskey was aged for 13 years. The bottle has been open for 2 years and is 90% full

Nose: strong, clear, very high rye content nose, with lots of vanilla and natural caramel. Some might say, "varnish". Maybe, because high-pitched sweet oak flavours coupled with lots of natural caramel and vanilla smell somewhat like varnish. I like this smell very much. Those who are averse to strong sweet oak flavours will receive this set of flavours differently. This nose is excellent, as are most noses from Four Roses Limited Edition releases. Water added raises the pitch, adds high-pitched sweetness and bundles the flavours. Beautiful with water. Score: 24/25

Taste: excellent translation of the nose flavours. With water the taste is intensely sweet and the flavours are bundled. Score: 23.5/25

Finish: long, very strong, gains a little sourness at the death. With water, sweetness dominates at the death in a universe of intense spiciness. Great with water. Score: 22.5/25

Balance: excellent in the nose; very good to excellent thereafter. Score: 23.5/25

Total Sequential Score: 93.5 points

Strength: powerful flavours. Score: 24.5/25

Quality: excellent quality of flavours throughout. These Limited Edition Four Roses are their top juice. Score: 24/25

Variety: very good variety in all phases. Score: 23/25

Harmony: first rate integration of bourbon flavours. Score: 24/25

Total Non-Sequential Score: 95.5 points

Comment: this is my sister's bottle. She owns a lot of Four Roses Limited Edition bottles and a lot of private Four Roses Single Barrel bottles from Binny's. It took me a long time to get to liking the Four Roses house style, but there is no denying that this is great bourbon. Any bottle of Four Roses Limited Edition is usually a big treat, which is why they have become difficult to obtain, even in the USA

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