Four Roses is unique among bourbon distilleries: it blends two mash bills and five proprietary yeast strains to make 10 distinct recipes. Their barrel-strength Private Selection (single-barrel store picks) let you taste those recipes individually, so knowing the recipe code is the key to picking a great bottle. Here’s a guide to the best Four Roses Private Selection recipes.
How to read the recipe code
Every Four Roses recipe is a four-letter code like OBSV. The letters that matter are the 2nd and 4th:
- B = high-rye mash bill (35% rye); E = lower-rye mash bill (20% rye).
- The last letter is the yeast: V (delicate fruit), K (spice), O (rich fruit), Q (floral), F (herbal).
So OBSV = high-rye mash bill + the fruity ‘V’ yeast.
Fan favorite: OBSV
OBSV pairs the high-rye mash bill with the delicate-fruit V yeast, giving rye spice alongside apricot, pear, cinnamon, and toasted oak. It’s frequently ranked at or near the top of the recipes and is a superb, well-balanced pick.
The connoisseur’s pick: OESK
OESK combines the lower-rye mash bill with the spicy K yeast for baking spices, mellow oak, tea leaf, and caramel. It’s one of the most sought-after recipes and often appears in Four Roses’ annual limited releases.
Other standouts
- OESO — rich, fruit-forward and a frequent fan favorite; very approachable.
- OBSK — high-rye plus spicy yeast for a bold, spice-driven barrel-strength experience.
- OESV — softer, fruity, and easy-drinking.
How to choose
- Love rye spice: look for a B mash bill (OBSV, OBSK).
- Prefer fruit and caramel: go for an E mash bill (OESK, OESO, OESV).
- Best all-round starting points: OBSV and OESK.
- Because every Private Selection is a single barrel at barrel strength, even the same recipe varies bottle to bottle — check the recipe code and the store’s tasting notes on the label.
Please drink responsibly. Must be of legal drinking age.