Four Roses, beloved by bourbon devotees, is known for a somewhat unusual regimen of making whiskey. It distills using two separate mashbills and five different yeast strains. The result is 10 unique whiskeys, which are then blended in a variety of ways.
But rarely are these 10 separate whiskeys tasted alone, and so most Four Roses fans don’t get a chance to appreciate them individually. There are a few exceptions, such as the Four Roses single barrel expressions, but these whiskeys are mainly used as blending components, much like the single malts in a blended scotch.
Now, finally, Four Roses is offering a chance to taste all 10 whiskeys independently, in the form of a 10-pack of 50-ml bottles. Availability will be somewhat limited, unfortunately. The 10-pack goes on sale starting June 30 at Four Roses’ visitor centers in Lawrenceburg and Coxs Creek, Kentucky. In July, it will become available at select retailers in California, Georgia, Illinois, and Kentucky. The retail price is $130, and the box also has a QR code that takes you to a video of master distiller Brent Elliott walking through an immersive tasting experience of all 10 expressions.
Deconstructing Four Roses and Its Whiskey Styles
Two Mashbills
B: 60% corn, 35% rye, and 5% barley
E: 75% corn, 20% rye, and 5% barley
Five Yeast Strains
V: Delicate Fruit
K: Light Spice
O: Rich Fruit
Q: Floral Essence
F: Herbal Notes
Ten Whiskeys
OBSV: Delicate fruit and rye
OBSK: Rye and baking spice
OBSO: Rich fruit
OBSQ: Rye and light floral character
OBSF: Delicate rye and mint
OESV: Delicate fruit and caramel
OESK: Baking spice
OESO: Rich fruit and vanilla
OESQ: Delicate grains and floral character
OESF: Light grain and mint
Cracking the Code of the Whiskey Names
•The first letter is always “O” designating the distiller as Four Roses.
•The second letter stands for the mashbill, either B or E.
•The third letter is always “S” indicating it as a straight whiskey.
•The fourth letter designates the yeast strain used.
