I love the Four Roses Limited Edition bottlings. The first one I bought was the 2017 Al Young release. I have pretty much bought every release since then and have not been disappointed. The 135 Anniversary release in made up of 40% 14 year old low rye slight spice bourbon, 35% 12 year old low rye delicate fruit, 20% 16 year old low rye delicate fruit, 5 % 25 year old high rye delicate fruit. This is bottled at 108 proof, which likely has very little if any water added given that Four Roses tends to be fairly low in proof straight from the barrel. 

The color on this is a very bright amber; despite the long aging, Four Roses uses single story warehouses which remain cooler than most rickhouses, so these barrels have undergone a more gentle maturation. On the swirl is a very thin film. On the nose is vanilla, leather, allspice, clove, pear, and some nice background oak. Very complex on the nose. On the palate, oak and English pipe tobacco mix with clove, vanilla, stone fruit, and caramelized brown sugar. It’s a very sweet bourbon but the clove notes offset this in a way that is just about perfect. Really nice creamy mouthfeel. On the finish, the baking spices really take over with touch of raspberry but with the caramelized brown sugar still present. Finish is very long and enjoyable. 

Master distiller Brent Elliott did a great job on this limited edition. This bourbon has just the right combination of fruitiness and spiciness with a nice oak backbone to tie it all together.