Four Roses Yellow Bourbon

Four Roses Yellow Bourbon is a Kentucky straight bourbon bottled at 40% ABV. It is the entry point to the Four Roses lineup. What sets it apart from most bourbons at this level is the distillery's recipe system. Four Roses works with two mash bills: one with 60% corn, 35% rye and 5% malted barley, and one with 75% corn, 20% rye and 5% malted barley. It also draws on up to five yeast strains. This bottling uses both mash bills and all five yeasts, so the blend combines several distinct distillates. The label has since dropped the yellow and the product is now sold simply as Four Roses Bourbon, so you may see either name on the shelf. Because the high-rye mash bill is in the mix, expect a bourbon on the softer, fruitier and spicier side. Corn-forward bourbons usually give caramel, vanilla and light toasted oak, and the rye portion typically adds a gentle peppery, baking-spice edge. A moderate proof and a blend like this usually mean a smooth, easy-drinking profile, not a heavy char-and-tannin one. Treat these as typical expectations for the style and recipe, not a measured tasting profile for this bottle. Neat is the best way to learn what it offers, and a Glencairn helps, since the tapered bowl gathers the lighter fruit, vanilla and spice aromas. At 40%, a few drops of room-temperature water open it a little, but it doesn't need much. For slower sipping, pour it over one large cube in a rocks glass. The chill tightens the sweetness and the cube melts slowly, so the glass doesn't turn watery. The same softness makes it a good cocktail base. In an Old Fashioned, the rye spice stands up to a sugar cube and a few dashes of bitters, and an orange peel brings out the vanilla and caramel. In a Manhattan, pair it with sweet vermouth in a 2:1 ratio and finish with a cherry. The result is rounder and less sharp than one made with a straight rye. For a Whiskey Sour, shake it with fresh lemon juice and simple syrup, and add an egg white for a silky texture. For a Highball, pour 2 ounces over ice and top with 4 to 6 ounces of ginger ale or soda water. Add a lemon wedge for a light, dry drink that suits warm weather.