Wayne and I decided to do a “bargain” tasting based on a request by a friend. We love having friends over to try new bourbons and they tend to really enjoy doing that. But one brought to our attention that they wanted to find decent bourbons to have on their shelf at home or that they might request as a mixed drink in a bar.
This blind sample includes five bourbons, all are 100 proof, at least four years old, and under $30.
This table documents our blind nosing and tasting experience.
Sample A
Sample B
Sample C
Sample D
Sample E
Appearance
Light in color, golden honey
Light in color, golden honey
Light in color, golden honey
Light in color, golden honey
Light in color, golden honey
Nose
Wayne: Plum
Rebecca: Caramel, apple
Wayne: not as hot
Rebecca: light, very little coming forward
Wayne: slight vanilla
Rebecca: light, bright, berries, toffee
Wayne: very light
Rebecca: light, butter
Wayne: limited
Rebecca: creamy vanilla pudding
Tasted Neat
Wayne: bitter, spicy
Rebecca: a bit hot, caramel, red hots
Wayne: zest, cinnamon
Rebecca: orange zest
Wayne: oak, cinnamon
Rebecca: oak, toffee
Wayne: chili powder
Rebecca: nutty, peanut butter, chili
Wayne: rye grass
Rebecca: rye spice, darker tasting
Finish
Wayne: black pepper
Rebecca: fairly long, black pepper
Wayne: black pepper
Rebecca: long, black pepper
Wayne: black pepper
Rebecca: medium, pepper
Wayne: chili pepper
Rebecca: long, oak, nutty, pops of chili
Wayne: NA
Rebecca: medium, black pepper
First Impression
Wayne: so-so
Rebecca: OK
Wayne: OK
Rebecca: OK
Wayne: OK
Rebecca: OK
Wayne: Nice
Rebecca: Good
Wayne: No
Rebecca: so-so
Top Nose
Wayne #1
Rebecca #2
Rebecca #1
Wayne #2
Top Taste
Wayne #1
Rebecca #1 Wayne #2
Rebecca #2
Top Overall
Wayne #1
Rebecca #1 Wayne #2
Rebecca #2
Please watch this video for more information on the entire blind tasting process and experience.
The table below shows the details and results of each bottle.
Name
Age
Price
Mashbill
Revealed Sample Letter
Results
With Diet Coke
Bench-mark Bonded 100 proof
Bottled-in-Bond; At least 4 yrs by rule
$17.99
Un-disclosed
C
Rebecca #1 taste & overall, #2 nose
Wayne #2 taste & overall
Rebecca & Wayne = No!
Evan Williams Bonded 100 proof
Bottled-in-Bond; At least 4 yrs by rule
$23.99
78/C, 10/R, 12/MB
D
Rebecca #1 nose; #2 taste & overall
Rebecca & Wayne = Very Good!
Old Forester 100 proof
KSBW; at least 4 yrs by rule with NAS
$29.99
72/C, 18/R, 10/MB
B
Wayne #1 Nose, Taste, & Overall
Rebecca = Very Good; Wayne = No
Old Grand Dad Bonded 100 proof
Bottled-in-Bond; At least 4 yrs by rule
$25.99
63/C, 27/R, 10/MB
E
Wayne #2 Nose
Rebecca & Wayne = No!
Very Old Barton 100 proof
KSBW; at least 4 yrs by rule with NAS
$16.99
75/C, 15/R, 10/MB
A
N/A
Rebecca & Wayne = OK
Discussion and Final Notes
This blind tasting was very enlightening. When you remove your background knowledge, experience, and expectations from the equation, it really helps your mind, nose, and palate be open to new senses. For us, it is unlikely that we will drink these neat; however, we have a much better understanding of which ones taste better with a Diet Coke (our mixer of choice) and this will be beneficial for selecting a bargain pour in various establishments.
If you have an idea for another blind tasting match-up, please let us know. We are always looking for new challenges!
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey: Such whiskeys have all the requirements of bourbon: Made in the U.S, distilled at <= 160 proof, barreled at <= 125 proof, aged in new, charred oak containers, bottled at >= 80 proof. Straight bourbon means it is aged at least 2 years (and must have an age statement if less than 4). In addition, to be Kentucky Straight Bourbon, it has the additional requirement that it must be produced and aged at least 1 year in the state of Kentucky. For additional information on bourbon requirements, please read this post – Bourbon Whiskey.
Bottled-in-Bond: must be produced in a single distillation season by a single distillery; must mature in a U.S. bonded warehouse for a minimum of four years; and the aged spirit must be bottled at 50% ABV (100 proof). For additional information on Bottled-in-Bond requirements, please read this post – Bottled in Bond.
NOTE: The bourbons in this review were purchased by us. We were not compensated by the spirit producers for this review. This is simply our opinion based on what we tasted on this day. Please drink responsibly.
Rebecca and I have been doing tasting over the last year and it’s always fun. Today, I decided to spring on her a mystery tasting that I called “Match Up.” I placed stickers with the number 1 and 2 on the bottom of our Glencairn glasses. Rebecca was instructed to enter the bourbon room, mix them up a bit (so I won’t know either), and bring the glasses out for the tasting. For the notes, we will go with each person’s A (left) & B (right). I looked forward to having a fun and different tasting with my wife.
This will be fun since we don’t even know if we have the same pour in the A or B glass!
Wayne Blind A
Wayne Blind B
Rebecca Blind A
Rebecca Blind B
Aroma: It’s a lot of sweet. I get cherry and cotton candy, maybe a little vanilla – that’s three things I’m getting.
Aroma: Baking spices, there’s a stone fruit, and cinnamon. The nose might be cherry.
Aroma: Caramel cinnamon, maybe a hint of red apple.
Aroma: There are some darker tones in this one. Caramel – almost to a toffee, some wood notes coming through as well as some baking spices such as nutmeg.
Tasted Neat: I get a nuttiness, almost peanut, wood, and not very sweet.
Tasted Neat: I’m getting cinnamon, white pepper, light, brown sugar.
Tasted Neat: Vanilla, not very sweet, cinnamon on the back.
Tasted Neat: There’s a lot of spice on the palate. It does give way to some notes of vanilla & caramel. Very woody and very light on the spice – more like nutmeg and white pepper.
Finish: Finish is a little cinnamon and a little white pepper; short.
Finish: The finish is short.
Finish: The finish is somewhat woody, cinnamon, hints of white pepper, and medium too long.
Finish: Medium in length, oak comes through on the finish as well as white pepper.
General Thoughts: I’m guessing the age is pretty young. I don’t think it’s older than four years. The proof is probably in the 90s. Short finish. Honestly, just OK.
General Thoughts: This is not bad and I get a little bit more on the taste and in the nose than I did the first one. Overall, it’s OK.
General Thoughts: The proof on this one is probably low-mid 90s, maybe 4 years old. I think it’s OK. It’s not overly dynamic. It’s got good flavors, just not a lot of them. It is a decent poor.
General Thoughts: The nose matches the pallet pretty well. Sweet and with little spice. Proof is likely under 100. Young but maybe a bit older than the first one.
This was Wayne’s winner.
This was Rebecca’s winner.
Wayne’s Blind A = Our Bourbon Journey 2023
Wayne’s Blind B = Rebecca & Wayne 2022
Rebecca’s Blind A = Our Bourbon Journey 2023
Rebecca’s Blind B = Rebecca & Wayne 2022
Ironically, we were tasting the same thing and selected the same winner!!
The Match Up Reveal
The bottles I selected were from Barrels & Billets. It’s located next door to the Louisville Slugger Museum and it’s a place we recommend. It’s fun experience where you can create your own bourbon based on a series of questions regarding your preferences. Our winner was our Rebecca & Wayne 2022 bottle, which has no age statement and is 90 proof.
As I was putting this tasting together, I honestly thought we would end up selecting the Our Bourbon Journey 2023 bottle, which also has no age statement and is 90 proof. I was confident that I had selected the 2023 and was surprised I had selected the 2022. Rebecca was equally as surprised that she selected the 2022 as well. The 2022 represented a sweeter profile while the 2023 was a little more savory and smoky.
It appears on this day, we went back to the future with our pick.
Cheers, Wayne & Rebecca
Photo by Wayne McBrayer
Bourbon Whiskey Requirements
Bourbon Whiskey: Such whiskeys have all the requirements of bourbon: Made in the U.S, distilled at <= 160 proof, barreled at <= 125 proof, aged in new, charred oak containers, bottled at >= 80 proof. For additional information on bourbon requirements, please read this post – Bourbon Whiskey.
NOTE: The bourbon in this review was purchased by us. We were not compensated by the spirit producers for this review. This is simply our opinion based on what we tasted on this day. Please drink responsibly.
Last July, following a fantastic two-day 2023 Bardstown Bourbon Collection Mint Julep Tour, Wayne and I stopped by the gift shop of the Four Roses bottling facility in Coxs Creek, KY because we heard they had released the Four Roses Ten Recipe Tasting Experience boxed set and wanted to get one to try at some point.
Wayne and I enjoy Four Roses and often have people ask, “What is your favorite recipe?” We really didn’t know because we haven’t purchased a single barrel bottle that we didn’t enjoy. This past weekend, we had the time to devote to this experience and it was very fascinating and sometimes surprising.
Selected for this Tasting
This tasting was boxed and ready for us – the Four Roses Ten Recipe Tasting Experience that is produced by Four Roses Distillery. The set includes ten 50 ml bottles, one of each recipe. The retail price at the gift shop for the set was $129.00
As discussed in Bourbon Yeast Flavors, Four Roses Bourbon produces a wide range of flavors by blending various yeast strains and mash bills. The use two mash bills – Mash Bill B emphasizes rye, while Mash Bill E prioritizes corn. Five yeast strains impart unique characteristics. These elements are combined to create ten distinct recipes as indicated on the table below.
Mash Bill B – 60% Corn, 35% Rye, 5% Barley
Mash Bill E – 75% Corn, 20% Rye, 5% Barley
Yeast V – delicate fruit
1 – OBSV – delicate fruit and rye
6 – OESV – delicate fruit and caramel
Yeast K – slight spice
2 – OBSK – rye and baking spice
7 – OESK – baking spice
Yeast O – rich fruit
3 – OBSO – rich fruit
8 – OESO – rich fruit and vanilla
Yeast Q – floral essence
4 – OBSQ – rye and light floral character
9 – OESQ – delicate grains and floral character
Yeast F – herbal notes
9 – OBSF – delicate grains and floral character
10 – OESF – light grain and mint
The four-character recipe:O for distilled at Four Roses, B or E for the Mash Bill, S for Straight Whiskey, and the final letter (V, K, O, Q, or F) for the yeast strain.
Four Roses Mash Bill B
Mash Bill B – 60% Corn, 35% Rye, 5% Malted Barley Age – at least 4 years (straight whiskey) Proof – 104
We did the aroma individually, wrote down our notes, and then shared with one another. We did the same with the tasting portion. We also had the Four Roses recipe table. Our conversation and knowledge of the table certainly could have influenced our results.
Recipe 01 – OBSV: ***Aroma: Wayne – pear and chocolate; Rebecca – berries ***Taste: Wayne – honey and cinnamon; Rebecca – pear, herbal, and cinnamon ***Finish: Wayne – cinnamon; Rebecca – long baking spices Recipe 02 – OBSK: ***Aroma: Wayne – honey and rye ; Rebecca – rye bread and baking spices ***Taste: Wayne – honey and rye; Rebecca – rye bread with honey butter on it ***Finish: Wayne – warm baking spices; Rebecca – light, warm cinnamon Recipe 03 – OBSO: ***Aroma: Wayne – apple; Rebecca – plum and ripe apples ***Taste: Wayne – cinnamon; Rebecca – plum and fig ***Finish: Wayne – nutmeg; Rebecca – nutmeg with white pepper Recipe 04 – OBSQ: ***Aroma: Wayne – honeysuckle and cinnamon; Rebecca – light cherry and rose ***Taste: Wayne – disappointed, didn’t like; Rebecca – honeysuckle and rye ***Finish: Wayne – NA; Rebecca – light white pepper Recipe 05 – OBSF: ***Aroma: Wayne – honey, light fruit, and mint; Rebecca – rye, mint, and tea ***Taste: Wayne – tea, mint, and honey; Rebecca – mint tea and rye bread ***Finish: Wayne – light; Rebecca – cinnamon
Favorite Aromas: Wayne – OBSV and OBSK; Rebecca – OBSO and OBSV Favorite Tastes: Wayne – OBSK and OBSO; Rebecca – OBSV and OBSK Favorite Overall: Wayne – OBSK and OBSV; Rebecca – OBSV and OBSO
Four Roses Mash Bill E
Mash Bill E – 75% Corn, 20% Rye, 5% Malted Barley Age – at least 4 years (straight whiskey) Proof – 104
The same as the other, we did the aroma individually, wrote down our notes, and then shared with one another. We did the same with the tasting portion. We also had the Four Roses recipe table. Our conversation and knowledge of the table certainly could have influenced our results.
Recipe 06 – OESV: ***Aroma: Wayne – vanilla, honey, baking spices; Rebecca – caramel, pear, baking spice ***Taste: Wayne – fruit and honey; Rebecca – caramel and pear ***Finish: Wayne – cinnamon; Rebecca – warm nutmeg and light pepper Recipe 07 – OESK: ***Aroma: Wayne – honey, vanilla, baking spice; Rebecca – vanilla and allspice ***Taste: Wayne – honeysuckle and cinnamon; Rebecca – baking spices ***Finish: Wayne – cinnamon and pepper; Rebecca – light cinnamon Recipe 08 – OESO: ***Aroma: Wayne – honeysuckle, vanilla, baking spice; Rebecca – vanilla cream and raspberry ***Taste: Wayne – spicy and honeysuckle; Rebecca – vanilla cream pie with berries on top ***Finish: Wayne – nutmeg and ginger; Rebecca – white pepper Recipe 09 – OESQ: ***Aroma: Wayne – caramel, honey, vanilla; Rebecca – corn, lavender, and light spice ***Taste: Wayne – wild honey, nutmeg, cinnamon; Rebecca – buttered corn and lavender ***Finish: Wayne – nutmeg and cinnamon; Rebecca – nutmeg Recipe 10 – OESF: ***Aroma: Wayne – rich vanilla, caramel, slight mint; Rebecca – herbal mint tea and baking spices ***Taste: Wayne – cinnamon and mint; Rebecca – sweet mint tea ***Finish: Wayne – cinnamon; Rebecca – nutmeg
Favorite Aromas: Wayne – OESK and OESF; Rebecca – OESV and OESO Favorite Tastes: Wayne – OESK and OESV; Rebecca – OESO and OESV Favorite Overall: Wayne – OESK and OESV; Rebecca – OESO and OESV
Blind Tasting Comparison
Note: The blind tasting was completed on Sunday, the day after the initial tasting.
This turned out to be much more challenging than we anticipated. It was our first blind tasting, and even so, we did break it into 5-pour sets based on Mash Bill B and Mash Bill E.
We started with the “B” group for aroma. This was a silent approach and we did not speak until we each had our top two. We then identified what was on the bottom of the glass but still did not know which one it was. Next we replicated the same approach for the “E” group. Finally, we took the top four that we had each selected and personally ranked them 1-4. Still, no idea which was which.
We repeated this exact process for the tasting component. This took much longer because we drank quite a bit of water between recipes to clear our palates.
Once we completed the process, we looked up the codes for each pour. We found it interesting that we each leaned more toward the Mash Bill B (higher rye) and that our taste tended to align more with one another than our nose. Below are our results.
Aroma
Taste
#1 of Mash Bill B
W: OBSK; R: OBSK *SAME*
W: OBSV; R: OBSV *SAME*
#2 of Mash Bill B
W: OBSF; R: OBSV
W: OBSQ; R: OBSK
#1 of Mash Bill E
W: OESV; R: OESQ
W: OESQ; R: OESK
#2 of Mash Bill E
W: OESF; R: OESK
W: OESV; R: OESQ
#1 Preference
W: OESV; R: OBSK
W: OBSV; R: OBSV *SAME*
#2 Preference
W: OBSK; R: OESQ
W: OBSQ; R: OBSK
#3 Preference
W: OBSF; R: OBSV
W: OESQ; R: OESQ *SAME*
#4 Preference
W: OESF; R: OESK
W: OESV; R: OESK
W = Wayne; R = Rebecca
We learned that information absolutely influences your palate. That could be what we have watched or read regarding other similar tastings, what the distiller states we might find, and even our ongoing conversation throughout a tasting as that makes it a shared versus individual experience.
Just for Fun – A Bit of Blending
Just for fun, we decided to try some blending. Except for single barrel offerings, most of the Four Roses expressions are expertly blended under the watchful palate of Brent Elliott, Master Distiller. We were curious to see what we might find by blending our top taste choices.
Wayne: OBSV with OBSQ – Aroma of mint, cherry, baking spice; Taste of honey and cinnamon OESQ with OESV – Aroma of honey and vanilla; Taste of honey, mint, and vanilla All Four – Aroma of honey and vanilla; Taste of mint, rye, and cinnamon
Rebecca: OBSV with OBSK – Aroma of berries, plum, rye, and mint; Taste of fruit, honey, plum, and finished with cinnamon and nutmeg OESK with OESQ – Aroma of caramel, vanilla, berries, and tea; Taste of caramel, corn, vanilla cream, mint and finished with nutmeg and pepper All Four – Aroma of rye bread, caramel, and fruitiness; Taste of caramel, vanilla, honey, fruit and finished with nutmeg
This was super fun to do some “blending” at home. It was interesting to see which characteristics had the strength to rise to the top over such a wide range of aromas and tastes happening. On a side note, we each took our remaining six recipes and poured them into a Glencairn to sip on throughout the day.
Discussion and Final Notes
As fans of Four Roses, we really enjoyed this challenge/experience. We now better understand their approach to bourbon and blending and this brought us a greater appreciation for the Small Batch and Small Batch Select (although they are typically 6-7 years old) expressions and helped us to better understand why we might prefer one single barrel over another.
Speaking of single barrels, these samples and tastes will likely never perfectly match a single barrel; although, there should be a family resemblance. A single barrel is selected for its specific characteristics. These samples are straight whiskey and likely in the four-year range. Single barrels are typically aged 7-9 years. An older single barrel should have additional barrel notes. Plus, if you purchase a store picked single barrel, that will have the characteristics of what that selection team desired.
Since we have one more set, we plan to do this again in 6-12 months; however, we will approach it differently to make it a new experience. Perhaps comparing yeast strain as the primary or head-to-head challenges in a bracket system. A bracket approach might be nice as we could do it over several days and avoid palate fatigue. We will let you know when that happens!
Meanwhile, enjoy Four Roses because surely there is a small batch or single barrel that aligns with your palate.
Cheers, Rebecca
Photos by Rebecca Herman McBrayer
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey: Such whiskeys have all the requirements of bourbon: Made in the U.S, distilled at <= 160 proof, barreled at <= 125 proof, aged in new, charred oak containers, bottled at >= 80 proof.
Straight bourbon means it is aged at least 2 years (and must have an age statement if less than 4). In addition, to be Kentucky Straight Bourbon, it has the additional requirement that it must be produced and aged at least 1 year in the state of Kentucky.
For additional information on bourbon requirements, please read this post – Bourbon Whiskey.
NOTE: The bourbon in this review was purchased by us. We were not compensated by the spirit producer for this review. This is simply our opinion based on what we tasted on this day. Please drink responsibly.
Your Bourbon Journey 