BOTM 5/11: Four Roses Yellow Label

[Josh]

Nose starts out a bit medicinal, followed by lots of mint and clove on the middle, and a nice touch of coffee and maple on the finish.

It's good, and I would say it's one of the best, if not the best, 80 proofer on the market.

That said, I never reach for it. I hate to say this, as I often complain that Bourbon connoisseurs are the most frugal group of people on the planet, but at $20 it's never gonna be a staple for me. If it was $15, I'd swim in it, but for near $20 there are just too many other higher proof options out there. Weller SR, OGD, VOB, WT101... And if I want a summer Bourbon, I'll drop an ice cube in OGD.

(Before Josh and Oscar jump on my case, let me also state that I adore the house of FR. I try to stash as much SBLE 2009 and 100th as I can afford, and I love FRSB, Mariage 2009 and SmB LE 2009 as well.)

Jumping down your throat...

I think you make a good point. I like yellow label a lot, but the proof is a drawback. I think Yellow Label excels in manhattans and old fashioneds and sipping neat, but it can get a little lost on the rocks.

Nevertheless, it has a distinctive tast that is unlike most anything else on the market. I do love the stuff and I always have it on hand!

[T Comp]

...
I think you make a good point. I like yellow label a lot, but the proof is a drawback. I think Yellow Label excels in manhattans and old fashioneds and sipping neat, but it can get a little lost on the rocks.

Nevertheless, it has a distinctive tast that is unlike most anything else on the market. I do love the stuff and I always have it on hand!

Hey Mr. Rutledge how about Yellow Label at 100 proof or even barrel proof? I'm sure there are many reasons why not, especially considering Four Roses and their innovative releases, but one can always hope.

[hectic1]

Hey Thad...

We asked Mr. Rutledge that very question last week and he admitted that he would like to see an increase in proof on the Yellow label to somewhere in the 86 to 90 range. He doubted that would ever happen based on the economics and the like...but one can hope that someone at FR will listen to their Master Distiller eventually!

[DeanSheen]

I like this bottling. Stu has been evangelizing for a 100pf version to Jim Rutledge for awhile and it's good to see others on the same tack. It just makes too much sense for 4Roses not to do it.

I'm glad this is finally available in OH. I'm looking forward to using it as a light summer sipper with a few cubes in the heat of the summer.

I did find this a couple years ago in Jerusalem. They do not have many imports there as their VAT on alcohol is very high. I was sick of Beer and Jamesons so I sprung for several of these. The price I paid for a pour there could nearly buy a bottle here.

[CorvallisCracker]

Probably the best value all around bourbon in the under $20 market.

Huh?

Oh, wait, you aren't in Oregon.

It being the FR entrant in the hotly contested JDBL/WT101 price range category, let's look at how it stacks up (OR prices):

Jack Daniels Black Label $20.95 80 proof
Wild Turkey $23.05 101 proof
Jim Beam Black Label $21.95 86 proof
Old Grand Dad BiB $21.05 100 proof
Buffalo Trace $22.95 90 proof
Old Forester Signature $22.45 100 proof
Four Roses Yellow Label $21.95 80 proof

Which is why I've never tried it. I'm sure it's better than JDBL (how's that for a prejudiced statement) but I don't buy that either.

...Mr. Rutledge...would like to see an increase in proof on the Yellow label to somewhere in the 86 to 90 range.

...but one can hope that someone at FR will listen to their Master Distiller eventually!

It just makes too much sense for 4Roses not to do it.

Sense? Kirin? Japanese corporation? Didn't one of those build nuclear reactors in a tsunami zone?

I suppose I should try it one of these days. If it weren't for the darn proof/price ratio...

[BourbonJoe]

[quote=cigarnv;244819]Probably the best value all around bourbon in the under $20 market. [quote]

Especially in Pennsylvania where they closed it out for 11.99. Me and Stu got our share.
Joe

[OscarV]

I like this bottling. Stu has been evangelizing for a 100pf version to Jim Rutledge for awhile and it's good to see others on the same tack. It just makes too much sense for 4Roses not to do it.

As a matter of fact last week Mr Rutledge told us that he has been lobbying Kirin to go 90prf on the Yellow label or at least 86prf.

[cigarnv]

Huh?

Oh, wait, you aren't in Oregon.

It being the FR entrant in the hotly contested JDBL/WT101 price range category, let's look at how it stacks up (OR prices):

Jack Daniels Black Label $20.95 80 proof
Wild Turkey $23.05 101 proof
Jim Beam Black Label $21.95 86 proof
Old Grand Dad BiB $21.05 100 proof
Buffalo Trace $22.95 90 proof
Old Forester Signature $22.45 100 proof
Four Roses Yellow Label $21.95 80 proof

$17.95 in Va...... All the rest are $20+ if I recall... I would reach for the 4R before the JD, OF and JBB....as for the others I suppose it depends on the night.....

[Happyhour24x7]

I have a bottle of FR Small Batch open that I like very much. I've been stepping out of my "go-to" bottles lately and sampling a bunch of standard mid price bourbons that I had either never tried or has been a while. This fits the list, and after the varying comments above I look forward to adding my own. I'll add comments in a week or so.

[CorvallisCracker]

$17.95 in Va.......

At that price I wouldn't hesitate.