Okay, okay, so this one’s not exactly an outlier, but I had to include it because it’s great whiskey. Master distiller Jim Rutledge builds all of his Four Roses Bourbons from a palette of ten different whiskies fashioned from two different mashbills—one higher in rye than the other—and five distinct yeast strains. (Most distilleries, even those producing several different brands, work o of only one or two recipes.) This year’s batch, high in rye and blended from a mix of barrels that range from 9 to 13 years old, is luscious with taffy, cherry and mint notes with a touch of citrus. The almost sorghum-like sweetness compliments the oak spice, finishing with a nice, warming cinnamon-like heat.
Spirits Type:
Whiskey
ABV:
(varies by batch) around 60%
Producer:
Four Roses, Lawrenceburg, KY
Price:
$99
This story appears in the print issue of December 2014.
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