Buzzard’s Roost Four Grain Double Oak Bourbon Review

Distillery: Undisclosed Ohio Distillery

Proof: 100.0 (50.0% ABV)

Age: Five Years

Mashbill: 73% Corn, 16% Wheat, 6% Rye, 5% Malted Barley

MSRP: $80

---

Four-grain mash bill. Secondary maturation. Ohio-sourced distillate.

Buzzard’s Roost reputation is not built on distilling.  Rather, they specialize in maturation strategy and specifically with wood selection and finishing techniques to reshape sourced whiskey.  Their Four Grain Double Oak Bourbon doesn’t deviate from that theme.  Bottled at 100 proof, aged five years, and built on a mash bill of 73% corn, 16% wheat, 6% rye, and 5% malted barley, this is a whiskey designed around layers of grain and the influence that comes from secondary aging.

The distillery itself remains undisclosed, though is “sourced from an Ohio distillery” according to press releases.  The “double oak” designation signals a secondary finish that seems intended to amplify sweetness rather than intensify tannin.  At an MSRP of $80, expectations are elevated.  Five-year sourced bourbon at this price must justify itself through differentiation, either by flavor concentration or complexity.

Buzzard’s Roost Four Grain Double Oak Bourbon Review: Tasting Notes

Nose – 4.4/5

Bright honeysuckle.  Golden caramel.  Vanilla.  Light toasted sugar.  Faint cinnamon.  Soft wheat sweetness.

This Nose is bright and well….vibrant.  The sweetness is candy-like but not artificial.  The double oak shows up as polished sweetness, not char or dryness.

Strengths:  Excellent clarity.  Floral sweetness.  No ethanol notes.
Why It’s Not Higher:  Complexity stays centered with sweet notes rather than expanding into deeper oak notes.

Palate – 4.5/5

Vanilla cream.  Marshmallow.  Soft caramel.  Cinnamon dusting.  Honeyed oak.  
The Palate is the high point of this bourbon.  The vanilla cream note is distinct.  The small rye percentage adds just enough cinnamon lift to give some variety.

Strengths:  Excellent flavor clarity.  Sweetness balanced by gentle spice.
Why It’s Not Higher:  Limited mid-Palate.  Profile remains dessert-forward rather than evolving into savory notes.

Finish – 4.0/5

Warm vanilla.  Light cinnamon.  Caramel on the fade.  Toasted oak.
The Finish is steady and warm with moderate length.  Does not dry out.  Carries sweetness into and through the fade.

Strengths:  Controlled warmth.  Pleasant fade.
Why It’s Not Higher:  Lacks any depth of notes that makes it memorable in the days after.

Value – 3.8/5

At $80 for a five-year sourced bourbon, expectations are high.  The execution here is good, in particular on the Nose and Palate.  The four-grain structure combined with secondary maturation does create a unique profile.

However, the price sits in a bracket where higher age statements, barrel strength offerings, or fully transparent distillery products compete directly.  The quality is evident.  But the price point requires an enthusiast who specifically wants the sweeter, double-oaked profile.

Buzzard’s Roost Four Grain Double Oak Bourbon Review: The Verdict

This is a bright, confection-forward bourbon.  The Palate leads the experience, supported by an inviting Nose.  The Finish is solid but less dynamic than the Palate and Finish.  The price tempers enthusiasm. 

If you are an enthusiast drawn to bright, honeyed, vanilla-driven bourbon, this is a strong pour.  It doesn’t chase power.  It doesn’t chase darkness.  It stays in the “golden lane” and executes well in that lane.Verdict – 4.2/5

We score each bourbon based on nose, palate, finish, and value.

Scoring System:

• Platinum – 4.5 – 5
• Gold – 4 – 4.5
• Silver – 3 – 4
• Bronze – <3