One thing I really appreciate about the Washington, DC Four Roses Private Selection program is that there are enough outstanding barrel picks around to compare recipes side-by-side instead of just comparing random barrels.

This weekend I finally put two of them head-to-head:

**OESK: Washington, DC 11th Edition**

* 9 years 7 months
* 120.8 proof

vs.

**OESO: Washington, DC 13th Edition**

* 9 years 8 months
* 112 proof

Same mashbill. Nearly identical age. Similar warehouse. The biggest difference is the yeast recipe, so I was curious how much that one variable would actually change the whiskey.  Full disclosure… I have had the OESK bottle for a month or two and it’s already nearing refill range, so that tells you it will be hard to beat.  I was excited to stumble across the OESO while shopping this weekend and finally compare them side-by-side.

**OESK-**  This is one of those bourbons where every note seems to arrive exactly when it should.   Luxurious, oily mouthfeel.  Vanilla cake.  Buttercream frosting.  Rich caramel.  Then the finish completely changes gears.

A lingering sweet cinnamon note shows up with a warming, almost sparkling tingle that honestly reminds me of Goldschläger. Not because it tastes like cinnamon schnapps, but because of that distinctive cinnamon warmth after the swallow.

The best part is how layered it feels. The vanilla, caramel, oak and cinnamon never compete with each other. Each gets its turn before handing off to the next.  It makes me want another sip immediately.

**OESO-** The mouthfeel is every bit as luxurious.  The biggest difference for me was the fruit.  Cherry was the dominant note, and it reminded me a little of Stagg.  But the flavors in this pour are more chill and don’t assert themselves the way the fruit does in Stagg.  I got gentle cherry, subtle vanilla, sweet cornbread and an overall softer profile.

Nothing was out of balance.  In fact, it's a beautifully integrated bourbon.

The only thing that held it back for me was that everything feels a little too polite. The individual notes don't jump out the way they do in the OESK, and the finish is much mellower with only a touch of heat compared to that memorable cinnamon finish on the OESK.

**Final Thoughts**

The OESO is excellent bourbon.  If someone poured it at a friend's house, I'd happily drink every drop.  But side-by-side, the OESK had more personality and is the clear winner for me.  It wasn't that it had more flavor, it had more contrast. It's a reminder that with Four Roses, changing a single letter in the recipe can create a dramatically different experience.

Have any of you found yourselves gravitating toward certain Four Roses recipes, or do you think the individual barrel matters more than the recipe itself?

Head-to-Head: Four Roses OESK vs. OESO... and One Recipe Won Me Over