The Story
114.2 proof. Non-chill filtered. Four recipes: OBSV (16 years), OBSQ (14 years), OESK (12 years), and OESV (16 years). The 2021 Limited Edition Small Batch from Four Roses — the most specific annual barrel selection in American bourbon.
Four Roses is unique in American bourbon for producing 10 distinct recipes — two mashbills (high-rye OBSB/OBSK at 35% and low-rye OESB/OESK at 20%) crossed with five proprietary yeast strains. The Limited Edition Small Batch draws from a Master Distiller-selected subset of these recipes each year, with full transparency about which recipes and ages were chosen.
The 2021 edition documents exactly what went into the bottle: a 16-year-old OBSV, a 14-year-old OBSQ, a 12-year-old OESK, and a 16-year-old OESV — four recipes spanning four years of age difference, each contributing its specific character to a non-chill filtered, barrel-strength blend. The OBSV recipe is known for its delicate fruit and spice; OBSQ for rich fruit and full body; OESK for gentle fruit and slight spice; OESV for a full body with rich fruit and spice. Together at 114.2 proof they represent one of the most transparently documented annual bourbon releases in the category.
Tasting Notes
- Appearance: Deep amber with warm golden highlights.
- Nose: The multi-recipe complexity immediately apparent — fruit, spice, vanilla, and oak from the four distinct recipe contributions.
- Palate: Rich and layered at barrel strength — the four recipe profiles producing a complexity that single-recipe bourbons can't match.
- Finish: Long and evolving — spice, fruit, and oak fading through a complex, satisfying close.
The Four Recipes
- OBSV (16yr): High-rye mashbill, delicate fruit and spice yeast — light, delicate fruit character
- OBSQ (14yr): High-rye mashbill, rich fruit yeast — rich fruit and full body
- OESK (12yr): Low-rye mashbill, slight spice yeast — gentle fruit, creamy, slight spice
- OESV (16yr): Low-rye mashbill, delicate fruit and spice yeast — full body, rich fruit, light spice
Specs
- Distillery: Four Roses, Lawrenceburg, Kentucky
- Style: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
- Proof: 114.2 (57.1% ABV)
- Bottling: Non-chill filtered, barrel strength
- Size: 750ml
- Release: 2021 Limited Edition Small Batch
Explore the full Four Roses collection or browse all bourbon at Wooden Cork.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How does the 2021 differ from the 2020 Limited Edition? Each year the Master Distiller selects a different combination of recipes and ages. The 2020 drew from a broader set of recipes at 115+ proof; the 2021 is four specific recipes at 114.2 proof. The documented recipe transparency allows direct vintage comparison.
- What do the recipe codes mean? Four Roses uses a four-letter code: O = Four Roses Distillery, B = high-rye mashbill / E = low-rye mashbill, S = straight whiskey, then a letter for the yeast strain (V = delicate fruit and spice, Q = rich fruit, K = slight spice, O = rich spice, F = floral essence).
- Is the 2021 LE Small Batch still available? In limited quantities. Four Roses LE Small Batch editions are produced annually in limited supply and not restocked.
- How does the LE Small Batch differ from Four Roses Small Batch Select? Small Batch Select is a permanent release blending six recipes at 104 proof. The LE is a one-time annual selection at barrel strength from a specifically documented recipe combination.
Description
114.2 proof. Non-chill filtered. Four recipes: OBSV (16 years), OBSQ (14 years), OESK (12 years), and OESV (16 years). The 2021 Limited Edition Small Batch from Four Roses — the most specific annual barrel selection in American bourbon.
Four Roses is unique in American bourbon for producing 10 distinct recipes — two mashbills (high-rye OBSB/OBSK at 35% and low-rye OESB/OESK at 20%) crossed with five proprietary yeast strains. The Limited Edition Small Batch draws from a Master Distiller-selected subset of these recipes each year, with full transparency about which recipes and ages were chosen.
The 2021 edition documents exactly what went into the bottle: a 16-year-old OBSV, a 14-year-old OBSQ, a 12-year-old OESK, and a 16-year-old OESV — four recipes spanning four years of age difference, each contributing its specific character to a non-chill filtered, barrel-strength blend. The OBSV recipe is known for its delicate fruit and spice; OBSQ for rich fruit and full body; OESK for gentle fruit and slight spice; OESV for a full body with rich fruit and spice. Together at 114.2 proof they represent one of the most transparently documented annual bourbon releases in the category.
Tasting Notes
- Appearance: Deep amber with warm golden highlights.
- Nose: The multi-recipe complexity immediately apparent — fruit, spice, vanilla, and oak from the four distinct recipe contributions.
- Palate: Rich and layered at barrel strength — the four recipe profiles producing a complexity that single-recipe bourbons can't match.
- Finish: Long and evolving — spice, fruit, and oak fading through a complex, satisfying close.
The Four Recipes
- OBSV (16yr): High-rye mashbill, delicate fruit and spice yeast — light, delicate fruit character
- OBSQ (14yr): High-rye mashbill, rich fruit yeast — rich fruit and full body
- OESK (12yr): Low-rye mashbill, slight spice yeast — gentle fruit, creamy, slight spice
- OESV (16yr): Low-rye mashbill, delicate fruit and spice yeast — full body, rich fruit, light spice
Specs
- Distillery: Four Roses, Lawrenceburg, Kentucky
- Style: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
- Proof: 114.2 (57.1% ABV)
- Bottling: Non-chill filtered, barrel strength
- Size: 750ml
- Release: 2021 Limited Edition Small Batch
Explore the full Four Roses collection or browse all bourbon at Wooden Cork.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How does the 2021 differ from the 2020 Limited Edition? Each year the Master Distiller selects a different combination of recipes and ages. The 2020 drew from a broader set of recipes at 115+ proof; the 2021 is four specific recipes at 114.2 proof. The documented recipe transparency allows direct vintage comparison.
- What do the recipe codes mean? Four Roses uses a four-letter code: O = Four Roses Distillery, B = high-rye mashbill / E = low-rye mashbill, S = straight whiskey, then a letter for the yeast strain (V = delicate fruit and spice, Q = rich fruit, K = slight spice, O = rich spice, F = floral essence).
- Is the 2021 LE Small Batch still available? In limited quantities. Four Roses LE Small Batch editions are produced annually in limited supply and not restocked.
- How does the LE Small Batch differ from Four Roses Small Batch Select? Small Batch Select is a permanent release blending six recipes at 104 proof. The LE is a one-time annual selection at barrel strength from a specifically documented recipe combination.
