Four Roses Bourbon

Because I've recently started seeing someone who works as a bartender for special events on weekends, I also have the great advantage of her making me some REALLY good mixed drinks when we're together in her free time. But as I began getting into various bourbon-based mixed drinks, I slowly started to realize that while I could make an old fashioned with Blanton's, Weller or Taylor..... I would likely face divine retribution the moment anything other than these lips touch those sacred liquids. So I've been looking into some inexpensive and cheerful Bourbons lately and this one truly brings back memories. I've been drinking Four Roses for years but never bothered to write a review. So, here it goes... I've never observed just how unique the aroma on Four Roses is. Not unpleasant uniqueness, just different. Yes, there are of course the standard honey and vanilla bourbon notes but then some floral lavender? That's a first. Some tartness accents the aroma but it's hard to pinpoint exactly what citrus fruit. As you experience the palate, sticky sweet corn syrup bursts on the tongue. The palate is almost entirely sweet, as honey blends with that corn syrup, and just before giving up on complexity, spice makes a strong appearance from the middle to the back of the taste. Baking spice with a slightly numbing peppercorn-like sensation on the palate introduces the finish. The finish is pleasantly long for the low proof and even lower price point. As the spice fades on your tongue and the roof of your mouth, brown sugar and some tannic charred oak bring the experience to a neat conclusion. Yeah, this would be a FANTASTIC bourbon for a Tennessee Mule. The sweetness and spice would blend so well with the sourness of limes and the kick of ginger beer. But on its own, this should be a go-to at any casual bar.

This is one of the older bottles in my collection. To me, the aroma is almost non-existent. Part of me feels repetitive mentioning caramel, but it's almost as if my palate is drawn to it; I certainly have a sweet tooth. I spent nearly 10 minutes with the glencairn but couldn't detect anything else. The taste has a slight toastiness with the arrival of caramel. It's very subtle. The finish is on the shorter side, which makes sense given the alcohol content.

This is my initial bottle of Four Roses, and I must admit, I am pleasantly surprised. Simple aroma - vanilla, brown sugar, and a trace of cedar. Similar to the scent, the flavors are uncomplicated - toasted buttered waffles with abundant maple syrup. The finish is oaky and sweet with absolutely no burn. Considering it costs under $30.00 a bottle, I will certainly keep this stocked.

The aroma is very light and thin, with extremely subtle citrus notes. The thinness persists on the palate; there are citrus and mineral notes, but they vanish as quickly as they appear. It concludes with a longer baking spice note, but that too is faint. There's not much substantial flavor; it's just thin throughout.

I appreciate the fruity aroma of the entry-level Four Roses offering. Frankly, I could purchase this bourbon solely for its scent. Flavor-wise, it was previously too intense for me, but I've recently been exploring high rye bourbons and tried it again. My throat seems to tolerate the spiciness better now.

A solid bourbon at a very fair price. I was impressed; I purchased their Small Batch after tasting this one. Classic cherry and vanilla taste with a finish that is quite long for its price point. It's a shame this brand isn't available where I usually shop. Purchased on vacation in Cape May in 2024-08.