Four Roses: 80 Years of Evolution in One Tasting

Four Roses Through the Ages: A Vintage vs. Modern Bourbon Journey 🌹 Join us at Your Bourbon Journey for a truly special tasting as we "Quantum Leap" through three distinct eras of Four Roses. We’re traveling from the mid-century "Lost Years" to the "Golden" Japanese export era of the 1990s, finally returning to the bold resurgence of today’s Small Batch Select. In this episode, Wayne and Rebecca head to the tasting table with two rare finds from Revival Vintage Spirits and one modern powerhouse. We explore how a brand that was once diluted for the American market kept its soul alive in Japan before reclaiming its throne as a top-tier Kentucky producer. From surprising butterscotch notes in a 1950s blend to the elegant, crystal-like beauty of the 1997 Super Premium, this is a masterclass in the evolution of flavor, proof, and history. What we’re tasting today: 🌹 The "Lost" Years (1945–1960): A blended whiskey featuring Series 111 tax seals and a surprising hit of honeysuckle. 🌹The "Golden" Export (1997 Super Premium): A Japanese market exclusive designed to look like high-end crystal, showcasing the delicate V and K yeast strains. 🌹 The "Resurgence" (Small Batch Select): The modern-day 104-proof powerhouse that proves Four Roses is back and better than ever. Whether you're a fan of "dusty" hunting or you just love a solid pour of Four Roses Small Batch, there is something in this timeline for every whiskey enthusiast. ### **Connect With Us & Support The Journey!** 🥃 **Become a Patron & Get Exclusive Content:** https://www.patreon.com/cw/YourBourbonJourney 🌐 **Visit Our Website:** https://yourbourbonjourney.com/ 🔔 **SUBSCRIBE HERE:** https://www.youtube.com/@YourBourbonJourney?sub_confirmation=1 📸 **Instagram:** https://www.instagram.com/yourbourbonjourney/ 👍 **Facebook:** https://www.facebook.com/YourBourbonJourney We highly recommend Revival Vintage Spirits for your vintage bottles: https://revivalky.com/  ❌YOUR BOURBON JOURNEY DOES NOT SELL ALCOHOL❌ ✴️ FOUR ROSES BLENDED WHISKEY (1945-1960) Classification: Blended Whiskey Distillery: Four Roses Lawrenceburg 35% straight whiskies. 65% grain neutral spirits. 25% straight whiskies 4 years old. 4% straight whiskies 6 years old. Age: NAS (researched at 4–6-year blends) Proof: 86 Tax Seal: Red, Series 111   FOUR ROSES SUPER PREMIUM VINTAGE 1997 Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Company: Kirin-Seagram Ltd. Distillery: Four Roses Lawrenceburg Bottled: Kirin-Seagram facility in Gotemba, Japan Mash Bill – typically a blend of: E: 75% Corn, 20% Rye, 5% Malted Barley B: 60% Corn, 35% Rye, 5% Malted Barley Yeast: Commonly the V (delicate fruit) and K (slight spice) Age: Typically, at least 8 years old Proof: 86 The Design: That clear bottle with the labeling printed directly on the glass was designed to look like high-end crystal for the Japanese "gift-giving" culture. It’s widely considered one of the most beautiful bottles Four Roses ever produced.   FOUR ROSES SMALL BATCH SELECT Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Company: Four Roses Distilling LLC Distillery: Four Roses Lawrenceburg Mash Bill – typically a blend of: B: 60% Corn, 35% Rye, 5% Malted Barley E: 75% Corn, 20% Rye, 5% Malted Barley Yeast: 6 recipes – OBSV, OBSK, OBSF, OESV, OESK, & OESF Age: Typically, a blend of 6 and 7-year-old bourbons Proof: 104 ❌YOUR BOURBON JOURNEY DOES NOT SELL ALCOHOL❌ ✅ CHAPTERS 0:00 - Introduction: Valentine’s Day & Four Roses 1:09 - The Lineup: Three Eras of Four Roses 2:31 - Breaking Down the "Lost Years" Blend (1945-1960) 3:02 - Tasting the Vintage 10th Pint: Butterscotch & Surprises 5:28 - The "Golden" Export: 1997 Super Premium History 6:34 - Tasting the Japanese Exclusive: Delicate & Elegant 10:37- Modern Power: Four Roses Small Batch Select 14:27 - Head-to-Head: Comparing Noses and Palates 19:30 - The Evolution of the Brand: Final Thoughts 20:26 - Wrap Up & Cheers to Four Roses 🚨REMEMBER TO ALWAYS DRINK RESPONSIBLY🚨 ❓Questions❓ YourBourbonJourney@gmail.com NOTE: The spirit in this review was purchased by us. We were not compensated by the spirit producer for this review. This is simply our opinion based on what we tasted on this day. Please drink responsibly. #FourRoses #BourbonJourney #VintageBourbon #WhiskeyTasting #BourbonReview #RareWhiskey #FourRosesSmallBatch #WhiskeyHistory #DustyHunting #BourbonLovers #JapaneseWhisky #BourbonCommunity #SpiritsEducation #WhiskeyTube #BourbonLife