Four Roses

Last updated

Four Roses Bourbon
Four Roses Bourbon.jpg
Four Roses Bourbon
Type Bourbon Whiskey
ManufacturerFour Roses Distillery LLC
(Kirin)
Country of origin United States
Introduced1888
Alcohol by volume  40% Four Roses Bourbon
45% Small Batch
50% Single Barrel
52% Small Batch Select
Proof (US) 80 Four Roses Bourbon
90 Small Batch
100 Single Barrel
104 Small Batch Select
Website www.fourrosesbourbon.com
Old Prentice Distillery
Four roses destillery.jpg
Four Roses distillery main building
USA Kentucky location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Usa edcp location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Location Lawrenceburg, Kentucky
Coordinates 37°58′23″N84°53′54″W / 37.97306°N 84.89833°W / 37.97306; -84.89833
Built1910
ArchitectJoseph & Joseph Architects
Architectural styleSpanish Mission revival
NRHP reference No. 87000478 [1]
Added to NRHPMarch 19, 1987

Four Roses is a brand of Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey produced in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky. Its Spanish Mission-style distillery was built in 1910 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as Old Prentice Distillery. The company's warehouse for aging and bottling operations is in Cox's Creek, Kentucky. The brand and its products have evolved and transformed since the company's founding in the late 19th century, and especially since the firm's acquisition by the Kirin Brewery Company of Japan at the beginning of the 21st century. [2]

Contents

History

There are conflicting accounts of the brand's origin. [3] Four Roses owner Kirin Brewery names Paul Jones Jr. as the founder of the brand. [3] [4] The company says the brand name was trademarked in 1888 by Jones, who claimed it had been produced and sold as early as the 1860s. [4] An alternative account has the brand founded by Rufus Mathewson Rose, speculating it was probably named in honor of himself, his brother Origen, and their two sons. [5] The company website makes no mention of anyone named Rose.

The Four Roses distillery in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, was built in 1910 with Spanish Mission-style architecture, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. [1] It was originally called the Old Prentice distillery and was owned by J.T.S. Brown. [6] It was designed by Joseph & Joseph Architects, a firm with a history that has spanned more than a century in distillery design. [6]

The Four Roses brand was purchased by Seagram distillers, a Canadian firm, in 1943. Around the end of the 1950s, Seagram discontinued its sale within the United States in order to focus on promoting its core product, blended whiskey – although it introduced other brands of premium straight bourbons in the 1960s and 1970s, such as Benchmark and Eagle Rare. [7] A staid product in the US, Four Roses Kentucky straight bourbon's focus was shifted to Europe and Asia, which were rapidly growing markets at the time. In the United States during this period, the Four Roses name was used on a blended whiskey, made mostly of neutral grain spirits and commonly seen as a lower tier brand. [8] [9] Four Roses continued to be unavailable as a straight bourbon in the US market until after 1995. [10] In 1999, Four Roses brand ownership passed from Seagram to Vivendi/Universal, then in 2001 to Pernod Ricard and Diageo before being purchased by The Kirin Brewery in 2002. Kirin discontinued the sale of blended whiskey to focus exclusively on Four Roses Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey.

The brand's master distiller during 1995–2015 was Jim Rutledge, who had started working for Seagram in 1966. The previous master distiller was Ova Haney. Since Rutledge's retirement in 2015, the master distiller has been Brent Elliott, who had worked with Rutledge for the preceding 10 years. [2] Elliot is originally from Owensboro, Kentucky, and has a degree in chemistry from the University of Kentucky. [11]

In April 2019, the Four Roses distillery completed a $55 million expansion project that coincided with the launch of Small Batch Select – the first permanent addition to the distillery's bourbon lineup in 12 years. [12] [13] The distillery's expansion project began in 2015 and resulted in the ability to double production capacity. [12] [14]

The expansion project invested $34 million into the Four Roses distillery in Lawrenceburg, and $21 million at the Warehouse & Bottling facility in Cox's Creek. At the distillery, Four Roses added two new buildings and equipment, including a new column and doubler still and more fermenters. [12]

With the duplicate column and doubler still, production capacity is scheduled to increase from 4 million to 8 million proof gallons, enough to fill more than 130,000 barrels per year (261,000 hectolitres). [12] The Louisville-based architecture firm Joseph & Joseph designed the original distillery in 1910, and modeled the new buildings after the existing Spanish mission-style structures. [15]

Products

Brand expressions Pieroni Creative- Small Batch Select-3082.jpg
Brand expressions

The company distills ten separate bourbons using two mash recipes and five yeast strains. From combining these ten bourbons, the Four Roses distillery creates their standard bourbon. The single barrel bottlings are made with only one of those ten bourbons. The brand's regular bottlings are:

The company also produces special limited-production commemorative releases. These are often non-chill-filtered and bottled at barrel proof. [16]

Awards and accolades

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bourbon whiskey</span> Type of American whiskey

Bourbon is a type of barrel-aged American whiskey made primarily from corn (maize). The name derives from the French Bourbon dynasty, although the precise source of inspiration is uncertain; contenders include Bourbon County in Kentucky and Bourbon Street in New Orleans, both of which are named after the dynasty. The name bourbon may not have been used until the 1850s; the association with Bourbon County did not appear until the 1870s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Dickel</span> Brand of whisky produced in the State of Tennessee

George Dickel is a brand of Tennessee whisky produced in Tullahoma, in Coffee County, Tennessee. Today owned by Diageo, the modern brand was introduced in 1964, though the distillery has a longer history. Whisky production and aging takes place at the Cascade Hollow Distillery, which offers tours to the public and is part of the American Whiskey Trail. George Dickel operates the second-largest distillery in Tennessee, selling 130,000 cases in 2013, while the largest is Jack Daniel's, which sold 11.5 million cases the same year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maker's Mark</span> Bourbon whiskey that is distilled in Loretto, Kentucky, by Beam Suntory

Maker's Mark is a small-batch bourbon whiskey produced in Loretto, Kentucky, by Beam Suntory. It is bottled at 90 U.S. proof and sold in squarish bottles sealed with red wax. The distillery offers tours, and is part of the American Whiskey Trail and the Kentucky Bourbon Trail.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jim Beam</span> Brand of bourbon whiskey

Jim Beam is an American brand of bourbon whiskey produced in Clermont, Kentucky, by Beam Suntory. It is one of the best-selling brands of bourbon in the world. Since 1795, seven generations of the Beam family have been involved in whiskey production for the company that produces the brand. The brand name became "Jim Beam" in 1943 in honor of James B. Beam, who rebuilt the business after Prohibition ended. Previously produced by the Beam family and later owned by the Fortune Brands holding company, the brand was purchased by Suntory Holdings in 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Evan Williams (bourbon)</span> Brand of bourbon whiskey

Evan Williams is a brand of Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey bottled in Bardstown, Kentucky, by the Heaven Hill company. The product is aged for a minimum of four years. It has been ranked as one of the world's best selling whiskey brands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wild Turkey (bourbon)</span> Brand of Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey

Wild Turkey is a brand of Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey distilled and bottled by the Wild Turkey Distillery, owned by the Campari Group. The distillery is located near Lawrenceburg, Kentucky. It offers tours and is part of the American Whiskey Trail and the Kentucky Bourbon Trail.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Woodford Reserve</span> Premium small batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey produced by the Brown-Forman Corporation

Woodford Reserve is a brand of premium small batch Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey produced in Woodford County, Kentucky, by the Brown-Forman Corporation. It is made from a mixture of copper pot still spirits produced at the company's Woodford Reserve Distillery, and column still spirits from the Brown Forman Distillery in Shively, Kentucky. Each 45.2% alcohol by volume bottle bears a unique batch and bottle number. The brand was introduced in 1996. Domestic sales of Woodford Reserve surpassed one million cases in 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eagle Rare</span>

Eagle Rare is a brand of bourbon whiskey distilled and distributed by the Buffalo Trace Distillery. Eagle Rare is 90 proof bourbon, aged for either 10 or 17 years, depending on the variety. It was introduced in 1975 and is distilled in Frankfort, Kentucky.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Booker's</span>

Booker's bourbon is one of the small batch bourbons produced by the Jim Beam distillery, which is owned by Beam Suntory. Having the highest alcohol content of the brands in the Jim Beam "Small Batch Bourbon Collection", it is a cask strength bourbon. Booker's bourbon is aged between six and eight years and is bottled un-cut and without chill filtering at its natural proof between 121 and 130.6.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Single barrel whiskey</span>

Single barrel whiskey is a premium class of whiskey in which each bottle comes from an individual aging barrel, instead of coming from blending together the contents of various barrels to provide uniformity of color and taste. By contrast, some other whiskeys, even ones that are not blends, may be combined from more than one batch, or even from differing years to achieve consistency. The whiskey from each barrel is bottled separately, with each bottle bearing the barrel number and in most cases the dates for the beginning and end of aging. Each barrel is believed to contribute unique characteristics to the finished whiskey.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bulleit Bourbon</span> Brand of Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey

Bulleit Bourbon is a brand of Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey produced at the Bulleit Distillery in Lebanon, Kentucky and the Bulleit Distillery in Shelbyville, Kentucky, owned by the Diageo beverage conglomerate. It is characterized by a high rye content for a bourbon and being aged at least six years. It is bottled at 45% abv for the US, Canadian, British, Dutch and Mexican markets. For Australian and Danish markets, it is bottled at 40% abv. It is also sold in Germany, Norway and Sweden.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Small batch whiskey</span> Product label

Small batch whiskey is whiskey produced by mixing the contents of a relatively small number of selected barrels. Small batch whiskeys are commercially positioned for the upper-premium market. The term is most commonly used for American whiskey but is sometimes used for other whiskeys as well. For example, the Bowmore distillery in Islay, Scotland, has produced a single malt Scotch whisky labeled as "small batch".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Old Forester</span> The first bottled bourbon

Old Forester is a brand of Kentucky straight bourbon whisky produced by the Brown–Forman Corporation. It has been on the market continuously for longer than any other bourbon, and was the first bourbon sold exclusively in sealed bottles. It was first bottled and marketed in 1870 by the former pharmaceutical salesman turned bourbon-merchant George Garvin Brown — the founder of the Brown–Forman Corporation. During the Prohibition period from 1920 to 1933, Brown–Forman received one of only six licenses authorizing lawful production.

Nelson's Green Brier Distillery is a whiskey distillery located in downtown Nashville, Tennessee that produces different varieties of Tennessee whiskey and bourbons. The distillery offers daily public tours and tastings as well as a large mercantile shop with bottles, barware and apparel available for purchase. In July 2023, Nelson's Green Brier Distillery opened a newly renovated distillery restaurant and full-service bar at their 1414 Clinton St. Nashville, TN 37203 location. The same facility also now offers four new private event and dining spaces available to rent for corporate functions, weddings and celebrations of varying sizes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Willett Distillery</span>

Willett Distillery Ltd, is a private, family-owned-and-operated company that produces bourbon and rye whiskey. Over the years, the company has bottled whiskeys that range from two years of aging maturity up to 28 years. The company was named Kentucky Bourbon Distillers (KBD) between 1984 and 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blanton's</span> Brand of bourbon whiskey

Blanton's is a brand of bourbon whiskey produced and marketed by the Sazerac Company. Though it does not own the brand, it has exclusive distilling rights. It is owned by Age International, Inc. It is distilled in Frankfort, Kentucky at the Buffalo Trace Distillery.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elijah Craig (bourbon)</span> Brand of Bourbon

Elijah Craig is a premium and super-premium brand of bourbon whiskey produced in Kentucky by Heaven Hill Distilleries. The brand is sold as a straight bourbon, typically in 750 millilitres glass bottles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Willett Pot Still Reserve</span>

Willett Pot Still Reserve Bourbon is brand of a bourbon whiskey produced in Bardstown, Kentucky by the Willett Distillery.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Atherton Whiskey</span> American distillery company

Atherton Whiskey was a pre-prohibition brand of Kentucky Straight Bourbon whiskey first produced by J M Atherton & Co, a chemical and distilling business.

References

  1. 1 2 "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. July 9, 2010. Retrieved March 28, 2014.
  2. 1 2 "The History". Four Roses bourbon official website. Retrieved August 21, 2019.
  3. 1 2 Lipman, John. "The Four Roses Distillery". American Whiskey. Retrieved October 23, 2009.
  4. 1 2 Four Roses Bourbon History page on Four Roses brand website.
  5. ↑ Atlanta Urban Design Commission. "Rufus M. Rose House" . Retrieved November 5, 2015.
  6. 1 2 "100+ Years of Distillery Design". Joseph & Joseph Architects. Retrieved August 21, 2019.
  7. ↑ "Frequently Asked Questions". Four Roses bourbon official website. Archived from the original on January 26, 2020. Retrieved October 11, 2013.
  8. ↑ Risen, Clay (May 7, 2009). "Domestic Whiskey's Best Kept Secret". The Atlantic . Retrieved August 21, 2019.
  9. ↑ Pyle, Jason (February 15, 2011). "The Four Roses Story". Sour Mash Manifesto. Retrieved August 21, 2019.
  10. ↑ Waymack, Mark H.; Harris, James F. (1995). The Book of Classic American Whiskeys. p. 149. ISBN   0812693051. OL   784496M. Four Roses is quite difficult to obtain in the U.S. So far, we haven't been able to get our hands on any Four Roses...With any luck, [it] will reappear in the domestic market.
  11. ↑ "Meet the Master Distiller". Four Roses bourbon official website. Retrieved August 21, 2019.
  12. 1 2 3 4 Schreiner, Bruce (April 16, 2019). "Four Roses eyes expanded US sales with distillery expansion". Fox Business . Associated Press . Retrieved September 17, 2019.
  13. ↑ Micaleffe, Joseph V. (June 8, 2019). "Four Roses Small Batch Select Is A Must Try Addition To The Distillery's Core Range". Forbes . Retrieved September 18, 2019.
  14. ↑ Havens, Sara (April 16, 2019). "Four Roses reopens distillery after $34 million expansion and celebrates release of Small Batch Select". Insider Louisville . Retrieved September 18, 2019.
  15. ↑ "Four Roses reopens distillery after expansion". Joseph & Joseph Architects. Retrieved September 17, 2019.
  16. 1 2 3 4 5 "The Bourbons". Four Roses bourbon official website. Retrieved August 3, 2019.
  17. ↑ "World Whiskies Awards 2019 – Gold Medal – Taste – Four Roses Small Batch". World Whiskies Awards. Retrieved September 19, 2019.
  18. ↑ "Four Roses / Small Batch". Whisky Magazine. No. 129. August–September 2015. Retrieved September 19, 2019.
  19. ↑ "World Whisky awards 2019 – Gold Medal – Taste – Four Roses Single Barrel". World Whiskies Awards. Retrieved September 19, 2019.
  20. ↑ "APA Division 51: About Us: Division Awards". 2012. doi:10.1037/e670562012-001.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  21. ↑ "World Whiskies Awards 2019 – Winners – Best Kentucky Bourbon". World Whiskies Awards. Retrieved September 19, 2019.
  22. ↑ "World Whiskies Awards 2019 – Winners – World's Best Bourbon". World Whiskies Awards. Retrieved September 19, 2019.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.