Four Roses Yellow Label Bourbon

I purchased a 750ml bottle for $29.99 at the Kelly Liquors store in Mountain Run, Albuquerque. It's 80 proof, which is lower than I usually prefer, but it didn't detract from the whisky. While there's no age statement, it must have aged for at least two years as it's a straight Bourbon. It looks like a nice golden straw color in the glass. NOSE: Bananas, butterscotch, and a subtle medicinal/grassy note that I didn't find appealing, though it didn't spoil the taste. TASTE: Butterscotch, butter, brown sugar, coffee cake, and a very slight hint of oak. FINISH: An oak note is present throughout and lingers, giving it a medium finish. Right at the start, there's a brief but distinct impression of cool spring water. Generally, this Bourbon lacks complexity, particularly in the nose and finish, but it's quite good. It doesn't necessarily taste significantly better than its price, but considering what I paid, it was a fair value.

This lower-tier offering from the brand is a good value bourbon. I'd even call it a great choice for daily drinking. The aroma is rather uninspired, with oak, heat, and a hint of green apple. However, the palate is where it shines. I detect strawberries, a touch of caramel, and rye bread. It might be a bit thin, but it's very smooth. The finish offers a pleasant spicy kick with minimal burn. Again, it's a great everyday bourbon. While not incredibly complex, for $20, the value is hard to beat. It performs well as a mixer. The lower proof makes it less ideal for some spirit-forward cocktails, but those with citrus work nicely. Overall, it's a very solid value and quite practical for a home bar.

Smooth and delightful. Noticeable notes of honey, caramel, and fruits. Might surpass my usual choice in this price bracket (and generally, as a regular drink), which is Wild Turkey. Perhaps slightly less intricate than WT but considerably smoother, and any lack in complexity (which is minimal) is more than compensated for by its supreme smoothness. Just experienced it for the first time today but can already tell it will become my new regular sipper, apologies WT! Overall extremely satisfied with this acquisition and will definitely repurchase and endorse. Worth mentioning that upon purchase (at checkout, so it didn't affect my decision), the cashier stated that in her view, this is the top bourbon in its price range, and so far I strongly tend to agree.

Don't be fooled by the fancy wood and cork top; this is only worthy of a cheap plastic cap. The aroma is like candy corn from a freshly opened bag...the sugary, artificial smell hangs in the air just above the alcohol, reminding you it's young and unfinished. The palate is fairly mellow, but that's the best I can say. It tastes of stale cereal, inexpensive gas station caramel, and the gooey center of creamed corn. There's no real finish, and nothing to make you remember you just drank whiskey. I thought I'd give it a shot, and while it's acceptable, it's also completely forgettable in every aspect.

On the nose, there's a light floral honey note, and the palate is similar. The finish is brief, and the mouthfeel is very thin. There's no oak or spice to contend with, and it's not very intricate. If you're a dedicated bourbon enthusiast, I'd skip this and opt for the higher proof or barrel selections from Four Roses. This is simply a standard mixer or shooter type of bourbon.

A little spicy, I personally did not detect much sweetness. It had a peppery aroma initially, but surprisingly, when you taste it, there wasn't much flavor and it went down smoothly, without excessive heat. I'm very pleased with this, I'll keep some on hand!