Four Roses Small Batch Limited Edition 2022 750ML

Description

Four Roses Small Batch Limited Edition 2022 750ML is a barrel-strength Kentucky bourbon bottled at 54.5% ABV (109 proof) in a 750ml bottle, blending four proprietary recipes aged 14 to 20 years. Limited to just 14,100 bottles worldwide, this annual release marks the return of the rarely used OESF recipe its first appearance in the Limited Edition Small Batch lineup since 2016.

Quick Facts: ABV: 54.5% (109 Proof) | Origin: Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, USA | Blend of 1420 Year Old Bourbons | Distillery: Four Roses

Production & Heritage

Four Roses, one of Kentucky’s most storied bourbon producers, has operated in Lawrenceburg since 1910 and is currently owned by Kirin Holdings. The distillery is unique in the bourbon world for maintaining ten distinct bourbon recipes combinations of two mashbills and five proprietary yeast strains. The 2022 Limited Edition Small Batch brings together 20-year-old OBSV, 15-year-old OESK, 14-year-old OESF, and 14-year-old OESV into a single non-chill filtered, barrel-strength blend. The inclusion of OESF is particularly significant, as this recipe featuring the “E” high-rye mashbill (35% rye) and the herbal, mentholated “F” yeast strain had not appeared in the Limited Edition series for six years prior. Each of the 14,100 bottles was drawn from this carefully composed marriage of aged stocks.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with bright lemon oil and dense vanilla before transitioning into layers of butterscotch, cinnamon stick, and dried apricot. Fresh stone fruit mingles with rounder licorice and subtle tobacco leaf underneath.

Taste: Entry is rich with dark caramel think caramel chews and dense vanilla sweetness. The mid-palate shifts toward cocoa, brown sugar, and ripe berries, while clove spice and dried apricot build through the peak. The mouthfeel is oily and full-bodied, carrying noticeable barrel-proof heat alongside cinnamon warmth. Some drinkers note a tannic, mouth-puckering dryness that emerges as the sweetness recedes.

Finish: The finish is long and layered, with lingering cinnamon, plum skin, and bittersweet cocoa. Tobacco and dried stone fruit echo well after the sip, framed by a persistent tannic grip.

How to Drink Four Roses SmB LE 2022

This bourbon is best experienced neat or with a few drops of water, which tempers the 109-proof heat and opens the stone fruit and vanilla notes considerably. Its barrel-strength intensity and complex aged character also translate well into spirit-forward cocktails. An Old Fashioned benefits from the bourbon’s layered caramel and cinnamon profile, standing up to bitters and sugar without losing definition. A Boulevardier pairs its dark fruit and tannic backbone with sweet vermouth and Campari for a rich, warming drink. A Manhattan allows the 20-year OBSV component’s deep vanilla and tobacco notes to shine against sweet vermouth.

Best For

• Adding a sought-after annual release to a bourbon collection
• Gifting a serious bourbon enthusiast who follows limited releases
• Side-by-side tastings comparing Four Roses Limited Edition vintages
• Marking a milestone celebration with a barrel-proof, age-stated bourbon

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Four Roses SmB LE 2022 taste like? It delivers rich dark caramel and dense vanilla up front, followed by cocoa, dried apricot, berries, and cinnamon spice, with a tannic, drying finish. The mouthfeel is oily and full-bodied at barrel strength, with a dessert-like richness balanced by noticeable tannin structure.

How does Four Roses SmB LE 2022 compare to Four Roses Small Batch Select? Small Batch Select is a non-chill filtered, 104-proof blend of six recipes with no age statement, designed as a permanent shelf offering. The 2022 Limited Edition is higher proof at 109, uses only four recipes aged 14 to 20 years, and was restricted to 14,100 bottles resulting in a noticeably richer, more tannic, and more complex bourbon.

Is Four Roses SmB LE 2022 good for sipping neat? Yes its non-chill filtered, barrel-strength character rewards patient neat sipping, and a few drops of water help unlock additional stone fruit and vanilla layers beneath the proof.

Where is Four Roses SmB LE 2022 made? It is produced at the Four Roses Distillery in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, and aged in the brand’s single-story rack warehouses in Cox’s Creek, Kentucky, where consistent temperature exposure contributes to its flavor development.

What foods pair well with Four Roses SmB LE 2022? Dark chocolate truffles complement the cocoa and caramel notes. Smoked brisket or pulled pork matches the bourbon’s tannic backbone and barrel-proof weight. Aged cheddar or Gruyre echoes the butterscotch richness. Stone fruit desserts like apricot tart amplify the dried fruit character. Pecan pie mirrors the dense vanilla and brown sugar sweetness.

What sizes does Four Roses SmB LE 2022 come in? The 2022 Limited Edition Small Batch was released exclusively in a 750ml bottle.

Is Four Roses SmB LE 2022 worth the price? It positions as an ultra-premium, allocated bourbon the oldest component is 20 years old, it is bottled at barrel strength without chill filtration, and only 14,100 bottles were produced, placing it among the most sought-after annual releases in American whiskey.

Why Four Roses SmB LE 2022?

The 2022 release stands out even within the Limited Edition Small Batch series because of its reintroduction of the OESF recipe, a combination not seen in the lineup since 2016. That recipe’s herbal, mentholated yeast strain adds a dimension not present in most Four Roses blends, and its 14-year aging here gives it uncommon depth. The 20-year-old OBSV component among the oldest bourbon Four Roses has included in any release anchors the blend with extraordinary vanilla and tobacco complexity. For collectors and drinkers who track how Four Roses’ ten recipes interact across different age statements and blending ratios, the 2022 represents a rare configuration that is unlikely to be repeated.