🥃 Four Roses Bourbon
Base expression of Four Roses: a blend of ten recipes, aged at least five years, 40% ABV (80 proof).
Four Roses Bourbon is the base expression of the Four Roses brand, a Kentucky bourbon bottled at 40% ABV (80 proof). According to the producer, it is a blend of ten recipes, aged at least five years. It is the simplest place to start exploring the brand, since it is the most basic one in the range.
The brand uses two mash bills, B and E, and five yeast strains. Their combinations give ten recipes, and this version blends all of them. The spirit matures in new charred oak barrels, as the bourbon standard requires. The official description names a floral aroma with light spices and honey, a taste of fresh pear and apple, and a soft, long finish.
Why this matters to you. Compare the base version with Small Batch, which blends only four recipes, and with Single Barrel, which comes from one barrel: they have higher strength and older age. The producer's page also mentions 100 proof, so check the label on your bottle. The WHO reminds us that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.
Facts
| Legal basis | 27 CFR § 5.143 (USA), bourbon standard |
|---|---|
| Raw material | corn, rye, malted barley (mash bills B and E) |
| Distillation method | blend of ten recipes: two mash bills × five yeast strains |
| Cask type | new charred oak barrels |
| Minimum maturation | at least 5 years according to the producer |
| Alcohol (% vol.) | 40% ABV (80 proof) |
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Four Roses Bourbon → packed in → 🍷 Oak barrel ← packed in ← 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Packed in
- 🍷 Oak barrel
- Made from
- 🥃 Rye and corn in whisky
- What it contains
- 🍷 Ethanol
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Part of
- 🥃 Four Roses, 🥃 Bourbon whiskey, 🥃 Straight bourbon whiskey
- Similar and different
- 🥃 Woodford Reserve, 🥃 Bulleit
Frequently asked questions
Is it true that Four Roses Bourbon uses only one recipe?
No. According to the producer, it is a blend of ten recipes: two mash bills and five yeast strains.
How long is Four Roses Bourbon aged?
At least five years, according to the producer.
What is the strength of Four Roses Bourbon?
The main version is 80 proof, which is 40% ABV. The producer's page also mentions 100 proof.
What to read next
- 🍷 Alcohol and health — Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- 🍷 Ethanol — The alcohol formed during fermentation that makes you drunk.
- 🥃 Woodford Reserve — A Kentucky bourbon from a historic distillery in Versailles, Kentucky; the site has operated since 1812; the main version is 45.2% ABV; owned by Brown-Forman.
- 🍷 Drunk driving — Never drive after drinking wine: alcohol slows your reactions.
- 🥃 Rye and corn in whisky — Grain in the name of American whiskey: bourbon is at least 51% corn, rye at least 51% rye, corn whiskey at least 80% corn.
Similar
🥃 Four Roses Small Batch · 🥃 Four Roses Small Batch Select · 🥃 Four Roses Single Barrel · 🥃 Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon · 🥃 Woodford Reserve Double Oaked · 🥃 Bulleit 10 Year Old Bourbon
⚠️ Spirit drinks contain alcohol and are for adults only. Alcohol harms health. Do not drink during pregnancy or before driving; check the label for ingredients and possible allergens.
Sources
- Four Roses Bourbon: product page, Four Roses Bourbon (80 proof, min. 5 years, blend of ten recipes, tasting notes)
- Four Roses Bourbon: Our Process (two mash bills B and E, five yeast strains, ten recipes; product table with proof and age)
- 27 CFR § 5.143 (US): whisky standards of identity: bourbon (min. 51 % corn, new charred oak, bottled min. 40 % ABV)
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)