FALL ROSES: Small Batch Limited Edition 2021
photo by Matt Hakey
When Taters formed earlier this year it was with an eye towards retaking the “taters” name and associating it with good. Indeed, the mission is to harness the enthusiasm and generosity of the bourbon world for the greater good of the community. Historically, a “tater” is known as a bourbon nerd that, among other things, finds joy in hunting rare bottles. And while the limited availability of bourbon makes for great fundraising opportunities, there is little doubt that Taters still enjoy a good hunt.
Kudos to Four Roses for finding new and creative ways of keeping that hunt alive! One of the worst kept secrets in Four Roses circles is membership into the Official Mellow Moments Club. Taters and OGs alike know that a few times a year Four Roses opens up the membership page, allowing opportunities for new members to join the club for nominal perks such distillery discounts, opportunities for Four Roses swag and the occasional random drawing for special events.
Membership application, however, is not for the faint of heart. Taters must be quick on the draw to refresh the website when it is open for membership. Many a tater has been left frustrated by missing the ever too short window. This frustration is perhaps fitting as actual membership often leaves the tater frustrated in missing out on the ever so slim chance of winning one of the special drawings held among the thousands of members! But the thrill endures!
Each year Bourbon Heritage Month offers Four Roses yet another opportunity to allow its adoring fans both the thrill of the hunt (and all too often the agony of defeat)! In a pandemic, the hunt also takes on virtual form. For each of the last two years Four Roses has offered its Limited Edition Small Batch to the public and Mellow Moments members via online lottery.
Lucky winners receive the right to purchase the annual “unicorn” bottle signed by Master Distiller, Brent Elliott. New this year was an additional opportunity for 100 lucky Mellow Moments members to participate in a Zoom event with Mr. Elliott. Once again members had to be quick on the draw to purchase their ticket following the announcement of the highly coveted event!
For a relatively nominal fee, attendees were promised a sample of the 2021 release and opportunities to interact with the Master Distiller for a tasting. Never to be outdone, Four Roses also sent along a sample of the 2020 LE Small Batch and a special Glencairn.
So what about this year’s release? Here’s what Four Roses has to say:
Non-chill filtered and bottled at 114.2 proof, the 2021 Limited Edition Small Batch features four different hand-selected batches aged 12 to 16 years. These batches represent four of the distillery’s 10 distinct Bourbon recipes – a 16-year-old Bourbon from the OBSV recipe, a 14- year-old OBSQ, a 12-year-old OESK, and a 16-year-old OESV…
… The 2021 Limited Edition Small Batch offers elegant aromas of ripe berries, light floral and rich warm oak. The Bourbon is complemented by flavors of plum, orange peel and delicate spice leading to a rich, soft and lasting finish boasting vanilla cream and dark chocolate…
Those comparing the 2020 LE to the 2021 release will immediately notice the more vibrant and robust flavors this year over the richness of 2020. The recipes similarly offer OBSV, OESV and OESK; however, 2021 substitutes a light and floral OBSQ for the rich and spicy OBSK offered in 2020.
The similarities in recipe blends between 2020 and 2021 offer connoisseurs a great opportunity to appreciate the differences in how a particular recipe (in this instance the K vs. Q yeast strain) might bring out certain flavor profiles while masking other characteristics - such as aged oak. Many a tater will undoubtedly debate the qualities of each offering if given the opportunity. But what is undebatable is the fact that if you are lucky to find either bottle in the wild (or even for pours), don’t hesitate!
Be sure to check out the photo gallery below by Tater’s own Matt Hakey:
