To me, the Four Roses annual release Small Batch Limited Edition is the pinnacle of the Fall Limited Release Bourbon season. This is the only limited release bourbon Four Roses does each year, whereas other distilleries have multiple limited release bourbons. I look forward to getting this bottle each year, and the price has continued to climb, now at $249, up from around $200 last year. These are always so very good. This years Limited Edition Small Batch is 38% high rye mashbill with fruity yeast (OBSV) aged 13 years, 17% high rye with spicy yeast (OBSK) aged 13 years, 35% minty and fruity low rye (OESV) aged 13 years old, and 10% 19 year old OESV. Non chill filtered and the final proof is 109.
The color is a nice solid amber with flecks of mahogany. On the swirl, thick film and legs reveal the oiliness of the whiskey. The nose is very solid Four Roses; vanilla, fruitiness (cherries and juicy fruit gum), and some nice oak. On the palate, fruitiness on the nose dominates, with vanilla and caramel in the background, followed by baking spices and black pepper. A very classic yet enhanced Four Roses flavor profile. On the finish, the fruitiness fades into vanilla, clove, and oak.
So, many of my past reviews of various Four Roses Bourbons have noted a Juicy Fruit gum note. So, I decided to do some research, and this note is not a coincidence but intentional. Four Roses is particularly known for producing fruit-forward profiles due to their proprietary yeast strains, especially the V and O yeasts that emphasize fruity esters during fermentation. One of the key compounds responsible for these fruit notes is isoamyl acetate, an ester that creates banana, pear, and artificial fruit flavors—the very same compound that gives Juicy Fruit gum its distinctive taste. Interestingly, when Wrigley launched Juicy Fruit in 1893, isoamyl acetate was primarily sourced as a byproduct of whiskey distilleries. At that time, Illinois was the largest whiskey-producing state in America, churning out an estimated 18 million gallons annually, and Wrigley likely obtained this chemical from local distilleries before synthetic production methods became available. So when you detect those Juicy Fruit notes in Four Roses, you’re not imagining things—you’re tasting the same chemical compound that connected whiskey making and chewing gum manufacturing over 130 years ago, and that continues to give Four Roses its signature fruit-forward character today.
So, I decided to compare this with last year’s 2024 Limited Edition to see how they stack up. The 2024 release was composed of 31% high rye mashbill with fruity yeast (OBSV) aged 12 years, 23% low rye with spicy yeast (OESK) aged 15 years, 39% minty and fruity low rye aged 16 years old, and 7% 20 year old OBSV, coming in at 108.2 proof.
The 2024 Limited Edition – I really liked the barrel-driven character of last year’s release. The nose was a little more complex with green apple, milk chocolate, a hint of bready cinnamon roll, and caramelized sugar. The palate on the 2024 had a silkier mouthfeel with really nice notes of cherries, raspberries, mint, cocoa, and cloves, with the oak really showing up nicely in the background. The finish on the 2024 saw the cloves hang around with raspberry notes coming to the fore before fading into oak.
Comparing the two side by side, the 2025 release is definitely more fruit-forward and hits you with that classic Four Roses profile right away – it’s very approachable and true to the distillery’s signature style. The 2024 release, by contrast, was more complex and barrel-driven, with the older components (15, 16, and 20 years) really showing through with more oak influence and secondary notes like mint and cocoa. The 2025 is cleaner and brighter, showcasing that delicate fruit and vanilla character that Four Roses is known for, enhanced by baking spices and pepper. It feels like Brent Elliott wanted to get back to the core Four Roses DNA after exploring more oak-forward territory last year.
Both are excellent releases, but they’re different animals. If I had to pick a winner, I’d say the 2024 edges out the 2025 just slightly because of the added complexity and barrel influence that I really enjoy. But the 2025 is a fantastic representation of what makes Four Roses great – it’s fruit-forward, balanced, and has that classic profile that long-time fans will absolutely love. For those who prefer the classic Four Roses style over heavier oak notes, the 2025 might actually be the preferred pour.
Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch is just one of those bourbons that year after year is just amazing. Most importantly, if you can happen to get your hands on a bottle of the 2025 release, yes, it is worth the money to have this on your bar. The price continues to climb, but the quality remains consistently excellent. I feel fortunate that I have had multiple bottles of this over the years, and I really look forward to seeing what Brent Elliott comes up with next year.