FOOD NEWS
How Four Roses Really Feels About Having Age Statements On Its Bourbon
BY MOLLY HARRIS
Four Roses, a beloved Kentucky distillery, prefers not to label their bottles with the number of years the bourbon has aged. In fact, they believe it is rude to even ask.
Four Roses Master Distiller Brent Elliot tells VinePair that "bourbon is ready when it is ready." He dislikes when people equate age with quality and look down on younger bourbons.
Instead of flaunting a bourbon's age as a guarantee of quality, Four Roses prefers to make sure that every batch of bourbon meets their high standards, regardless of its age.
All Four Roses bourbon is barrel-aged and at least five years old. Others meet a higher minimum age requirement, such as six years for Small Batch and seven for Single Barrel.
While Four Roses may not advertise the exact age of their bourbons, you can try any of their labels and know that you're buying a quality product that has been aged to perfection.