Note: This review of Four Roses 2026 Limited Edition Small Batch reflects the personal opinions of Editor Kyle Swartz. This bottle was sent to him as a media sample.
Details
This barrel-strength bourbon blends four batches selected from the distillery’s 10 bourbon recipes. Four Roses non-chill filters the bourbon and bottles it at 109.2 proof. The blend includes a 14-year-old OBSK, a 14-year-old OESK, a 15-year-old OESV and a 23-year-old OESK. The suggested retail price is $249 per 750-ml. bottle. I sampled this product and cowrote this review with my friend and colleague David Sokoloff of Modern Distillery Age.
Nose
Incredibly rich with deep dark cherry, dried vanilla beans, prunes, raisins, and old oak. A note of citrus, especially as the whiskey sits in the glass for some time. This is a flawless nose, 100/100.
Palate
More richness with stone fruits, old oak, and burnt sugar, balanced with baking spices. Big round mouthfeel, smooth and easy drinking. Some cinnamon and tannins at first give way to all those delicious dark fruits with more time in the glass.
Finish
The cinnamon and tannins that were first present on the palate appear here as well, along with dry cherries, dark char, and baking spices. However, as this bourbon opens up, those initial tighter notes on the palate and finish fade behind a symphony of rich dark fruits.
Upshot
Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch remains one of the best “unicorn” bottles released every year. It’s a true chase bourbon worth tracking down and ponying up. I’ve never experienced a disappointed release in this line. To wit: The 2026 release is another winner. This is a masterfully crafted, world-class whiskey with no real flaws. Extremely rich in flavor and texture, the 2026 is a true showcase of older bourbons blended perfectly. It’s quintessential Four Roses, with wonderful dark fruits married with a bloom of baking spices. The nose is as good as anything I have ever encountered, whereas the palate and finish are merely great. I’ve tasted better Limited Edition Small Batch releases that reach a level of sublime not quite present in the 2026. But that is no knock. This is a Bottle of the Year candidate that any serious collector would be happy to add to their top shelf.
Kyle Swartz is editor of Beverage Dynamics. Reach him at kswartz@epgacceleration.com. Read his recent reviews, Jack Daniel’s Distillery Series #17: High Angel’s Share, Jameson Distiller’s Batch Irish Whiskey and Bardstown Bourbon 2026 Discovery Series.
