Four Roses Small Batch 45% NV

Professional reviews

Serge Valentin (80)

It’s the first time I try this baby. Colour: deep gold. Nose: as oaky as the Hudson but less rounded and sweet, more on pencil shavings and sawdust. Then more roasted nuts, walnuts, dried grated coconut, whiffs of roses and patchouli, tea and plain plank. Certainly not un-nice but I think the oak’s a little too loud for a Scotch aficionado. More and more juniper berries after a few minutes. Why not! Mouth: punchy, rich, wider, more complex than on the nose. More fruits such as pineapples and bananas, with bags of sweet spices from the oak. White pepper. Finish: very long, with more honey but also more white pepper, especially in the aftertaste. Cardamom. Comments: I’m wondering if bourbons aren’t more ‘palate’ whiskies while Scotch might be more ‘nose’ whisky. Just wondering… Forget about that…