Four Roses Recipe Blind: OESO vs. OBSV vs. OESV

Four Roses Bourbon

Three Four Roses recipes entered the blind tasting. Only one could win.

In this episode of Tortured Bourbon, Heather and B tasted Four Roses OESO, OBSV, and OESV without knowing which bourbon was in each glass. The labels were hidden, the samples were randomized, and all three recipes had to survive our noses, palates, questionable tasting vocabulary, and wildly unnecessary levels of confidence.

The goal was simple: determine how much difference Four Roses’ mash bills and proprietary yeast strains make when the bourbon is tasted blind.

The execution was less simple because Heather and B can taste the same whiskey and somehow report two entirely different emotional experiences.

[EMBED FOUR ROSES BLIND-TASTING VIDEO HERE]

What Makes Four Roses Bourbon Different?

Four Roses produces ten distinct bourbon recipes by combining two mash bills with five proprietary yeast strains. Each combination creates a different balance of fruit, spice, grain, caramel, herbs, and floral notes.

Those recipes are identified by four-letter codes such as OESO, OBSV, and OESV. The codes may look like passwords assigned by a bourbon-loving government agency, but they are surprisingly easy to understand.

According to the Four Roses production process, each letter provides information about where and how the whiskey was made.

How to Read a Four Roses Recipe Code

Every Four Roses recipe follows the same four-letter format:

• First letter: O — Produced at Four Roses Distillery

• Second letter: B or E — Identifies the mash bill

• Third letter: S — Straight bourbon whiskey

• Final letter: V, K, O, Q, or F — Identifies the yeast strain

For this blind tasting, the important variables were the second and fourth letters: the mash bill and yeast strain.

Four Roses High-Rye “B” Mash Bill

The Four Roses B mash bill contains:

• 60% corn

• 35% rye

• 5% malted barley

With 35% rye, Mash Bill B generally produces a more pronounced rye character. Drinkers may encounter pepper, baking spice, cinnamon, herbal notes, and a drier structure alongside the bourbon’s sweetness.

Among our three blind samples, OBSV was the only bourbon made with the high-rye B mash bill.

Four Roses Lower-Rye “E” Mash Bill

The Four Roses E mash bill contains:

• 75% corn

• 20% rye

• 5% malted barley

Four Roses calls this its lower-rye mash bill, although 20% rye is still substantial compared with many traditional bourbon recipes. The additional corn can create a sweeter, rounder impression while allowing fruit, caramel, and vanilla characteristics to become more prominent.

Both OESO and OESV use Mash Bill E.

The Four Roses Yeast Strains

Four Roses uses five proprietary yeast strains:

• V — Delicate fruit

• K — Slight spice

• O — Rich fruit

• Q — Floral essence

• F — Herbal notes

Our blind tasting focused on the O and V strains. That allowed us to compare two recipes using the same mash bill but different yeast strains, as well as two recipes using the same yeast strain but different mash bills.

This is where the blind tasting became especially interesting—and where Heather and B began treating tasting notes like evidence in a criminal trial.

OESO: Rich Fruit and Vanilla

OESO combines the lower-rye E mash bill with the rich-fruit O yeast strain.

The recipe is commonly associated with:

• Ripe cherry

• Red berries

• Vanilla

• Brown sugar

• Mellow sweetness

• Delicate oak

The additional corn in Mash Bill E gives the rich-fruit yeast strain room to create a softer, fuller profile. OESO is an important component of Four Roses Small Batch, where its fruit character contributes body and complexity.

On paper, OESO should be the richest and sweetest of the three recipes. Blind tasting, however, has a charming way of turning “should” into “what on earth are we drinking?”

OBSV: High Rye and Delicate Fruit

OBSV combines the high-rye B mash bill with the delicate-fruit V yeast strain.

Typical tasting characteristics include:

• Rye spice

• Apricot

• Pear

• Cinnamon

• Vanilla

• Toasted oak

OBSV is the recipe traditionally associated with the flagship Four Roses Single Barrel. Its 35% rye content gives it a firmer and spicier backbone, while the V yeast strain contributes lighter fruit notes.

This was our best opportunity to determine whether we could identify the high-rye recipe without seeing the label. Could we recognize that extra rye spice, or would barrel variation send us confidently marching in the wrong direction?

OESV: Delicate Fruit and Caramel

OESV combines the lower-rye E mash bill with the delicate-fruit V yeast strain.

Its expected profile includes:

• Pear

• Apricot

• Light vanilla

• Caramel

• Gentle grain sweetness

• Subtle rye spice

OESV uses the same V yeast strain as OBSV but replaces the high-rye B mash bill with the sweeter E mash bill. Comparing these two recipes reveals how dramatically a mash bill can influence the final bourbon—even when the yeast remains the same.

OESV also shares its mash bill with OESO, allowing us to explore the effect of changing only the yeast strain.

It is essentially a delicious bourbon science experiment, assuming your laboratory permits arguing with your spouse over whether something tastes like pears.

How We Conducted the Blind Bourbon Tasting

Each bourbon was poured into a glass marked A, B, or C. Neither Heather nor B knew which Four Roses recipe corresponded to each letter.

We evaluated every sample based on:

• Aroma

• Flavor

• Mouthfeel

• Balance

• Finish

• Perceived proof

• Overall enjoyment

After tasting all three bourbons, we ranked them from first to third and attempted to identify each recipe before revealing the bottles.

The blind format removed label bias, price expectations, recipe reputation, and the natural desire to sound intelligent after reading the bottle.

All we had left were our palates—which was unfortunate for at least one of us.

Can You Taste the Difference Between Four Roses Recipes?

Yes, but identifying a specific recipe blind can be difficult.

The high-rye OBSV may display more spice and structure, while OESO may lean toward rich fruit, vanilla, and brown sugar. OESV can fall somewhere softer and more delicate, combining fruit and caramel with restrained spice.

Individual barrel characteristics also matter. Age, proof, warehouse location, maturation conditions, and barrel selection can amplify or soften the expected recipe profile. Two barrels carrying the same Four Roses recipe code will share the same mash bill and yeast combination, but they will not necessarily taste identical.

That variation is part of what makes comparing Four Roses Single Barrel recipes so entertaining.

Which Four Roses Recipe Won?

You will have to watch the full blind tasting to see:

• Which recipe Heather ranked first

• Which recipe B ranked first

• Whether either host identified the high-rye mash bill

• Whether the rich-fruit O strain stood out

• Which bourbon became the overall winner

• How long it took confidence to become regret

More importantly, the tasting demonstrates that recipe descriptions provide a useful roadmap—but the whiskey in your glass gets the final vote.

Join the Tortured Bourbon Conversation

After watching the episode, tell us:

• Which Four Roses recipe is your favorite?

• Do you prefer Mash Bill B or Mash Bill E?

• Can you identify Four Roses yeast strains blind?

• Which three recipes should we compare next?

• Who would you trust with your blind-tasting lineup: Heather or B?

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Please enjoy bourbon responsibly.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many bourbon recipes does Four Roses make?

Four Roses creates ten recipes by combining two mash bills with five proprietary yeast strains.

Which Four Roses mash bill contains more rye?

Mash Bill B is the high-rye recipe. It contains 60% corn, 35% rye, and 5% malted barley.

What is the Four Roses E mash bill?

Mash Bill E contains 75% corn, 20% rye, and 5% malted barley. It is considered the lower-rye Four Roses mash bill.

What does the O yeast strain taste like?

The O yeast strain is associated with rich fruit characteristics such as cherries, ripe berries, and apples.

What does the V yeast strain taste like?

The V yeast strain is associated with delicate fruit notes, including pear and apricot.

What is the difference between OBSV and OESV?

Both use the delicate-fruit V yeast strain. OBSV uses the high-rye B mash bill, while OESV uses the lower-rye E mash bill.

What is the difference between OESO and OESV?

Both use the lower-rye E mash bill. OESO uses the rich-fruit O yeast strain, while OESV uses the delicate-fruit V yeast strain.