Single Barrel Alert: Four Roses OBSQ Arrival

Four Roses Arrival! 

The Four Roses Single Barrel program showcases the distillery’s unique approach to bourbon-making, emphasizing variety and complexity through its ten distinct recipes. These recipes are formed by combining two mash bills and five yeast strains. The mashbills are both technically on the higher rye side, with “O” (60% corn, 35% rye, 5% malted barley) and “E” (75% corn, 20% rye, 5% malted barley) expressions. The yeasts then accent the foundation with different flavor combinations: V (delicate fruit), K (light spice), O (rich fruit), Q (floral essence), and F (herbal notes). Each recipe is labeled with a four-letter code (e.g., OBSV, OESK), where the third letter denotes the mash bill and the fourth the yeast strain. Despite the meticulous and unique flavor combination setup, the recipes are chosen completely blindly. Mandy Vance, the private barrel selection manager, especially delights in confounding people’s guesses and expectations!

 

OBSQ Profile

The OBSQ recipe pairs the high-rye “B” mash bill with the “Q” yeast strain, known for imparting floral and delicate aromatic notes. This combination typically results in a bourbon that balances the spice and heat from the 35% rye content with a distinct bouquet of light florals, perfumed fruit, and subtle sweetness. At barrel strength, OBSQ intensifies these traits, often delivering a layered and expressive whiskey with both structure and elegance. It tends to appeal to those who enjoy complexity in their bourbon, especially when floral notes are a desired feature. Add to this the over eleven year maturation, one of the oldest barrels we’ve selected, and you get an explosion of flavor at a perfect 115 proof and change.

Preordered bottles will be available to pick up at Main Street starting at 2pm on July 3, with bottles available to purchase at both Main Street and Watertown. No purchase limits!