Four Roses Distillery

Four Roses (est. 1888, revived as premium brand by Japanese ownership 2002) is unique in American whiskey: it uses 2 different mash bills crossed with 5 different proprietary yeast strains, creating 10 distinct bourbon recipes blended together to achieve a nuanced, complex house style. The Low Rye mash bill (60% corn, 20% rye, 20% malt) and High Rye mash bill (75% corn, 20% rye, 5% malt) represent the two base styles; the 5 yeast strains each contribute different ester characters.

Four Roses Single Barrel is widely considered the most complex everyday bourbon available — each barrel shows a different expression of the 10-recipe system. The Limited Edition Small Batch (annual) achieves 96-98 points consistently. Kirin Brewery (Japan) ownership since 2002 explains the meticulous quality focus.