New Four Roses 120th Anniversary Bourbon
February 12th, 2008Keeping you ahead of the curve, here’s news on a new Four Roses bourbon, scheduled to be released in April.
The previous owner of Four Roses, Seagram, focused on selling Four Roses bourbon overseas. But ever since Kirin took ownership of Four Roses in 2002, they have made an effort to bring back the brand to the U.S. Starting first in Kentucky, they now have reintroduced the brand to New York, New Jersey, Tennessee and Illinois.
Last year they expanded their portfolio to include a Small Batch bourbon, Single Barrel bourbons, and a limited-edition 40th Anniversary bottling for Master Distiller Jim Rutledge (recipient of Malt Advocate magazine’s Lifetime Achievement Award for 2007), which was a single barrel, barrel proof whiskey.
Now there’s going to be a new 12 year old, single barrel, barrel proof Four Roses bourbon to celebrate Four Roses 120th Anniversary. This limited edition will be released in April with a 3,000 bottle distribution.
I have not been told the distribution or price yet, but when I find out, I’ll post it up. Keep ‘em coming, guys!
February 12th, 2008 at 12:51 pm
Hi John,
Once again I’m glad to hear what you know.
I love Four Roses and it is tops on my list for gifting.
I gave a bottle of Jims 40th to an associate to celebrate his opening of a new bar in Milwaukee.
I also gave a signed bottle to the hard working crews of Campbeltown and Bruichladdich while attending a Whisky Fest in Zurich.
I’m surprised the new release is coming out in April,normally Mr. Rutlledge waits till Septemper and Bourbon Fest to give us his goodies.
Since we still dont have distribution of 4R. up here in Wisconsin,I’ll have to plan a trip “south of the border” in search of it.
Lets see Whisky Fest Chicago is somewhere on my calendar..
or maybe I can contact Stuntman Mike from “Deathproof” to drive up north with some,then again I dont approve of the way he stores it in his glove compartment or the way he dispenses it!!
Once again thanks for the info.
It helps all of us “Mellow Fellows” in the Mellow Moments Club make it through winter.
February 12th, 2008 at 12:56 pm
Mike, I think their logic for releasing it in April is to get the whiskey in circulation in time for the Kentucky Derby.
I’m really looking forward to trying it. –John
February 25th, 2008 at 9:31 am
John,
Thank you for your coverage of Four Roses. I’m still reeling a bit from all the recognition of my 40th anniversary last year - especially Malt Advocates’ Life Time Achievement Award - and it keeps going. After all these years doing something I absolutely love it keeps getting better and better. For so many years while with Seagram I tried and tried to get them to discontinue production and sale of that *#*&*^ blended whiskey, with our name on it, let it die away and ultimately bring our Four Roses Bourbon back to the U.S. I reminded Seagram marketing people over and over that we were the number one selling Bourbon in the U.S. for a period of time prior to Prohibition and for three decades after Prohibition for a Good Reason - we have a Great Bourbon. Even if I didn’t agree, I honestly understood their logic. They all reminded me that their predecessors - begining in the 40’s ruined the renowned name for Four Roses Bourbon when they introduced a blended whiskey (made mostly in Indiana and Maryland) with our name on the label. It still devastates me that an industry giant, like Seagram, could go out of business primarily because of one person. I have so many Seagram friends and many have struggled since December 2001. However, for me personally, I’m continuing to live a dream come true. Not a lot of people gave us much of a chance, but I believed in our Bourbon and I felt over time that we could shed the image of the blended whiskey and people would once again come to respect and love Four Roses Bourbon for what it is - a Great Premium Bourbon.
I look around at the people at Four Roses and see the pride in their faces now that Four Roses is on its way back “home.” We’re relatively small in numbers but our hearts are huge and our energy seems to be endless. I hope I can somehow slow the Clock of Life down and stay on for years to come. I now have over 41 years in the business, but I feel like I’m still a Kid in a Candy shop, and I want to be around when Four Roses Bourbon is truly a global brand - including all of the USA. We’re on our way….
John and Amy - thanks again for your support and recognition. You’re helping me live this dream!
One more thing - You are right about us wanting to get our 120th anniversary Bourbon on the market prior to the Kentucky Derby, and we also want to celebrate our birthday all year long. But, don’t count the Kentucky Bourbon Festival time in September out for something special from Four Roses!
Sincerely,
Jim Rutledge
Master Distiller
Four Roses Distillery
1224 Bonds Mill Road
Lawrenceburg, Ky. 40342
February 25th, 2008 at 10:23 am
Jim, thank you for that informative and heartfelt posting. All of us bourbon drinkers are thrilled to see Four Roses come alive again. And we are fortunate to have you at the helm. Don’t retire just yet please!