Four Roses Distillery receives ‘American Whiskey of the Year’ honor

LAWRENCEBURG, Ky. (Jan. 29, 2013) – Whisky Advocate, America’s leading whisky magazine, named Four Roses’ 2012 Limited Edition Small Batch Bourbon its choice for “American Whiskey of the Year.”

The Whisky Advocate Awards, now in their 19^th year, are the oldest and longest-running annual whisky award program. The award-winners will be highlighted in the magazine’s Spring 2013 issue this March. The awards are “a recognition of a combination of excellence, innovation, tradition, and … simply great-tasting whisky,” according to the magazine’s online blog.

Four Roses 2012 Limited Edition Small Batch Bourbon was released last September. Master Distiller Jim Rutledge hand selected four recipes from the distillery’s 10 to make up the limited Small Batch offering, one being a 17-year-old bourbon coming from Four Roses’ OBSV recipe, which encompasses fruit, spicy and creamy characterisics. In addition, the 2012 Limited Edition Small Batch also includes a 12-year-old OBSK, a 12-year-old OESK as well as an 11-year-old OBSV, all married together.

Among the flavor characteristics, the new bourbon exhibits an aroma of creamy vanilla and citrus with hints of allspice, nutmeg and rich pipe tobacco. The palate offers mellow flavors of orange peel and ripe red raspberries, dark chocolate and caramel custard, finishing with soft cedar and vanilla.

Whisky Advocate publisher and editor, John Hansell, wrote “This, to me, is benchmark Four Roses: subtly complex, vibrant, yet fully matured. …Your decision shouldn’t be whether to buy it, but rather how much water to add.”

When the bourbon was released, Rutledge said, “This year’s small batch selection might just be one of our finest selections to date.”

The award caps a big year for Four Roses. In addition to the Whisky Advocate honor, Four Roses Distillery was named “Whisky Distiller of the Year – America” for the third consecutive year by international whiskey industry publication, Whisky Magazine late last year.

For more information about Four Roses Bourbon, visit www.fourrosesbourbon.com.