A maximum of 10 points will be available for each distillery visit…with 2 points available for “presentation” (basically the first impression the place puts on based on the sites, sounds, friendliness, etc), 3 points for the “experience” (whatever tour or tasting we did…which can include just doing a flight at the bar), 3 points for the Gift Shop (this will encompass all the gift shop has to offer EXCEPT for the final category), and 2 points for bottles exclusive to the distillery.
On the first day of our first trip to Kentucky this year, I took my wife to a couple places I loved and had visited multiple times. For the second day, it was time to venture out into the unknown and go a couple places that I hadn’t been. First on the list was Four Roses Distillery in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky.
PRESENTATION
It seems like every time I had mentioned how beautiful Maker’s Mark’s facility is, someone would chime in and say, “Yeah, but Four Roses is amazing!” What we found is a little more of a mixed bag. While the buildings featured cool architecture and the grounds were well-kept, once you get up close it is starting to look a little run-down, like it needs a fresh coat of paint and maybe some extra TLC. Not the worst way to start, but I have to be honest in saying that it didn’t give me the best first impression.
1.5/2
EXPERIENCE
We embarked on the Distillery Legacy Tour, which went into the working parts of the distillery to see how everything is done. It started with a short video before our tour guide took us to see the fermentation vats, stills, and everything else that you expect to see in a tour about how exactly bourbon is made. The tour guide was informative, especially when we got back to the tasting room where she detailed how Four Roses has 10 different recipes, based on 2 different mash bills and 5 different yeast strains that they can be combined with. We got to try a variety of their bourbons and got a “score card” that explained what to expect in the different recipes. This would come in handy when trying to pick out what single barrel expressions to buy later.
2.5/3
GIFT SHOP
Four Roses had a ton of branded merchandise and none of it seemed to be exorbitantly expensive. It’s always hard to pick out what to spend your money on, but I ended up with an extra large coffee cup and an athletic (Nike) t-shirt that I have used in walking and running. My wife ended up with a nice t-shirt as well.
3/3
EXCLUSIVES
Four Roses puts out different single barrel expressions just about every day…basically whatever they have waiting in line. The day we were there, there were 3 different expressions to be had, but none of them was on my top 3 list of ones to buy, so I had to pass. (Luckily, they are now selling lower-proof single barrel expressions of all their recipes nationwide. I was able to pick up an OESK a couple months later and it was delicious.)
2/2
If you’re a big fan of Four Roses, you won’t want to miss this place. If you’re not a big fan (I’m honestly not)…it won’t likely change your mind…but you still might enjoy the visit.
Total 9/10 – Overall an excellent visit and highly recommended for Four Roses fans
