To say that the Four Roses Barrel Program is second to none in the industry is no exaggeration. Other programs may borrow elements of the Four Roses experience, but nobody executes it like the four flowers. That success is due in large part to the talented team led by the indomitable Mandy Brown, who learned the finer points of Kentucky bourbon barrel hospitality from the late Al Young. The process is not conducted in a dank warehouse or impersonal boardroom but in a purpose-built space designed for the experience. Mandy rolls out ten barrels, their ages and recipes concealed, and thieves the whiskey directly for tasting. After sampling all ten, selections are made before the big reveal, a system that ensures quality rises above hype. While many buyers gravitate toward older or higher proof barrels for marketing value, K&L always makes its picks blind. During this year’s spring selection, we were honored with the rare opportunity to choose four casks, all from the high rye OB recipe but across different yeast strains and warehouses. This barrel, distilled with the elusive Q yeast strain, spent 11 years in Warehouse H West, rick 56, row 2. Its remarkable depth and complexity set it apart as one of the most compelling modern bourbons we have ever offered.