OBSK

RYE AND BAKING SPICE

One of the things that sets Four Roses apart is our process. As you probably know, we combine two different mashbills with five proprietary yeast strains to create 10 distinct Bourbon recipes. Then we use those recipes – either one at a time or mingled together – to achieve different flavor profiles. It’s part art, part science – and all love.

To share some of that love, last month we launched a ten-part series highlighting our 10 recipes and what each brings to the table, or should we say bottle.

We kicked things off with OBSV – our Single Barrel all-star known for its delicate fruit and rye flavors. This month, we are sticking with our rye-forward “B” mashbill and adding the K yeast strain to achieve a Bourbon that, well, could never be described as shy. Ladies and gentlemen meet OBSK.

OBSK is a favorite of Bourbon lovers who like intense, spicy flavors. It’s smooth and mellow like all our Bourbons, but the mashbill and yeast strain combine to create our spiciest recipe. Here’s the OBSK flavor profile as described by our Master Distiller, Brent Elliott:

The nose of OBSK is dominated by aromas of rich, clean rye and hints of lighter baking spices. The rich rye tones also dominate the palate at first sip, before seamlessly transitioning into flavors of allspice, nutmeg and cinnamon. As this recipe ages, the robust, bright flavors mellow into deeper and richer tones, as the oak, caramel and vanilla flavors increase. However, despite the spice up front and mid palate, OBSK has a generally soft and very mellow finish. 

So, now that you have a good idea of the flavors OBSK brings to the batch, see if you can spot its influence in Four Roses Bourbon, Small Batch and Small Batch Select. You’ll also find OBSK in these limited-edition offerings:

2008 Four Roses 120th Anniversary Limited Edition Single Barrel 
2009 Limited Edition Small Batch Mariage Collection
2010 Limited Edition Small Batch
2011 Limited Edition Small Batch
2012 Limited Edition Small Batch
2013 Four Roses Limited Edition Single Barrel                                
2013 125th Anniversary Limited Edition Small Batch
2014 Limited Edition Small Batch
2015 Limited Edition Small Batch
2017 Al Young 50th Anniversary Limited Edition Small Batch

We hope you enjoyed learning a little more about the OBSK recipe. Stay tuned for next month, when we take a deep dive into the nuances of flavor with another great recipe – OBSO. In the meantime, learn more about our 10 distinct Bourbon recipes here.