Bourbon education is the best kind of education. No matter where you go or what you do, there’s always more to learn. All you have to do is show up and listen.
Last night the Whisky Chicks hosted an event at the Four Roses Bourbon Barrel loft. Master Distiller Jim Rutledge talked about Four Roses' history and his struggle to restore its name. Decades ago the distillery was bought by Seagram’s, and the bourbon was relegated to the role of an export-only product. The only Four Roses product still available in the United States was a blended whiskey which tarnished the brand’s reputation terribly. Once Kirin bought Four Roses, Rutledge seized the first opportunity to ask for the brand to be brought back to the United States. His request was granted, but his struggle was not over. Remember that blended whiskey that no one liked? That’s what everyone thought of when they thought of the name Four Roses. To this day I still hear older people say they don’t like Four Roses, and it took me a long time to figure out why.
Rutledge set out to make new offerings of Four Roses, knowing full well most consumers wouldn’t know the difference between the blended whiskey and the yellow label. The Single Barrel offering was the first followed by the Small Batch, both of which are so different from one another Rutledge says even professionals often don’t think they are from the same distillery in blind taste tests. Now there are more offerings than any whiskey aficionado can shake a stick at, and they are each unique products thanks to the ten different recipes Four Roses uses to make their bourbons.
The Whisky Chicks will have a couple of pop up events in July, so be on the lookout for those on their Facebook page. They always have something interesting to add to the bourbon education landscape.
Photos courtesy of Maggie Kimberl.
