Four Roses Small Batch Select is a refined, higher-proof expression from one of Kentucky’s most distinctive distilleries, poured at Grappa in Queen Anne, Seattle. It is a thoughtful, layered bourbon for the drinker who appreciates complexity.
About the Distillery
Four Roses Distillery, in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, is unlike any other in bourbon country. Rather than relying on a single recipe, it famously combines two mash bills with five proprietary yeast strains to create ten distinct bourbon recipes, each with its own character. Small Batch Select, introduced as part of the distillery’s permanent range, represents master distiller Brent Elliott’s effort to spotlight some of the more subtle, herbal facets of the Four Roses house style.
Style & Mash Bill
Small Batch Select is a small-batch bourbon blended from six of the distillery’s ten recipes, drawing on both its lower-rye and higher-rye mash bills. It is non-chill-filtered, a choice that preserves more of the whiskey’s natural texture and aromatics, and it is bottled at a higher proof than the standard Small Batch. The blend of recipes gives it a uniquely complex, spice- and herb-forward profile.
Tasting Notes
Expect a vibrant, layered pour: ripe red fruit, caramel, and vanilla meet a lively thread of rye spice, dried herbs, and floral notes. The higher proof and lack of chill filtration give it a fuller body and a long, warming finish marked by oak and gentle pepper. It is expressive and complex, rewarding a slow, attentive sip.
What to Pair It With
The bourbon’s rye spice and red-fruit character make it a superb partner for our American Wagyu steaks and our Sicilian meatballs, where its spice cuts through the richness of the meat. A charcuterie board is another natural match. See the full dine-in menu.
How It’s Served at Grappa
We pour Four Roses Small Batch Select neat or on the rocks for $20. Given its higher proof, a small splash of water can help open up its herbal complexity.
FAQ
Where is it from?
It is made at Four Roses Distillery in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, known for blending two mash bills and five yeast strains into ten distinct recipes.
What does it taste like?
It is complex and spice-forward, with ripe red fruit, caramel, and vanilla alongside rye spice, dried herbs, and floral notes, finishing long and warm.
Is it a high-rye or wheated bourbon?
It is not wheated. It is a small-batch blend of six recipes drawing on both Four Roses mash bills, including the higher-rye recipe, and is non-chill-filtered.
To enjoy Four Roses Small Batch Select with us, book a table, browse the cocktail & spirits list, and the dine-in menu.
