Review: Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch Bourbon 2026 Edition

September is here, and while it has not brought with it anything in the way of cool weather, it has come along with the latest expression of Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch Bourbon, the distillery’s most prized annual release and one which we have covered since its inauguration.

This 19th edition of the bourbon features some of the oldest stock ever to appear in the series, with the barrel strength release composed of four batches selected by master distiller Brent Elliott. Here’s the makeup:

• 14-year-old OBSK (31%)
• 14-year-old OESK (39%)
• 15-year-old OESV (20%)
• 23-year-old OESK (10%)

On paper, that’s a powerful lineup that makes it feel like Elliott may be swinging for the fences with this one. I’m all for it. Let’s see whether it connects.

Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch Bourbon 2026 Edition Review

While last year’s release leaned on V yeast, this year we see a whiskey that is 80% K — designed to create a final product that is pushier on spice and less fruity. I’d say that was a success, the nose here overwhelming with the contents of the baking cabinet, particularly cinnamon and ground ginger. Close behind however is plenty of oak. That 23 year old stock may be limited to a mere 10% of the blend, but it’s quite dominant on the nose, giving the whiskey powerfully tannic aromas of dark chocolate and a peppery edge. Four Roses often leans on a reputation of softness, but this lands far from it.

At full proof the palate can come across as a bit hot, though I think that’s largely driven by the ultra-old stock in the mix, creating a gritty quality that makes the experience feel racier than it may actually be. While that peppery, herbal heat is present, ample notes of butterscotch and vanilla mix immediately to sweeten the pot, at first a bit bluntly, then in a more cohesive manner. Time in glass helps this whiskey immensely, coaxing out a dried floral character along with a more pastry-like baking spice that tastes modestly of Christmas cake. Wood is omnipresent, but the longer you sit with it, the more it fades into the background.

Bottom line: Want something more powerful than expected — maybe too powerful? — from your Four Roses special edition investment? Look no further.

109.2 proof. 16,800 bottles produced. Available starting October 10, 2026.

A- / $249 [BUY IT NOW FROM FROOTBAT]

The post Review: Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch Bourbon 2026 Edition appeared first on Drinkhacker: The Insider’s Guide to Good Drinking.