flahute Posted June 13, 2021 Share Posted June 13, 2021 A little late this month but better than never so the saying goes. First, to get one item out of the way. Yes, I know the label is now beige and that "yellow label" as a name is being discouraged. But? That's how we all know and love it here so I'm letting that habit perpetuate. I also figured that since the beginning of summer is upon us and I'm seeing lots of 'out of the freezer' posts that this one is very timely. For those who don't know - Four Roses has 10 recipes they arrive at via two mashbills and five yeast strains. Small Batch is a blend of four of the recipes. Standard Single Barrel is a single recipe and always the same one (OBSV). Small Batch Select is a blend of six of the recipes. Private Selections or Store Picks will be one recipe, any of the ten, and bottled at barrel proof. And the yearly vaunted Limited Edition Small Batch is a custom blend of any number of the recipes that is different every year. Yellow Label is a blend of all ten recipes. It does not have an age statement but the 4R website says it's aged a minimum of 5 years. My taste buds would agree with that. Why do we love it so much? Despite the low proof it drinks much better than any other 80 proof bourbon I can think of. We also know that 4R will dump much older barrels into the blend when those barrels are super short (as in too low a fill to go into the single barrel program) or if they are over oaked. Now you might think "isn't that bad?" and it's a fair question. The answer is no because it's too small a quantity to pass on that flavor into the blend but the presence of those barrels can impart just a little extra complexity into this super affordable bourbon. (Lagniappe for our Louisiana friends). Because of its low proof it's also great for daytime sipping on summer days and the discovery of how good it can be coming out of the freezer makes those summer days all the better! I just finished a hot day of gardening, or yard work, (need to consult Joe's handbook to make sure I'm using the right term here), so I'm drinking some out of the freezer as I type this! Cheers all. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry in WashDC Posted June 13, 2021 Share Posted June 13, 2021 GREAT CHOICE! Wife has been looking for a bourbon that does not upset her stomach (a recent development). After months of trying out various bourbons, 4R YL hit the spot. OR didn't hit it. For a 3(?) YO straight bourbon, it does NOT show its young age and has more complexity than most 80 proof basics from the majors - HH's "Old Style" 80 proof comes close. It also works in fancy, low proof cocktails by adding just a hint of wood and caramel. At least, that's what I tell myself now that I'm buying it four bottles at a time. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulO Posted June 13, 2021 Share Posted June 13, 2021 I can't add much to Steve's original post, but I'm a fan. The batch including all 10 recipes (including some much older barrels) is probably what does it for me. 80 proof from other companies are not interesting. You can just march out the door and buy this whenever, no screwing around, and fair price for quality. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob_Loblaw Posted June 16, 2021 Share Posted June 16, 2021 Fantastic choice. Exemplary write up as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeTerp Posted June 19, 2021 Share Posted June 19, 2021 I like it as a mixer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoustonNit Posted August 3, 2021 Share Posted August 3, 2021 Has anyone had this in Europe, specifically France? Four Roses YL is probably the most common Kentucky straight bourbon in that country, more common than Jim Beam and way more common than anything else. I’ve enjoyed this in the US as others stated packs arguably the most flavor of any 80 proof bourbon out there. I was in France this April me and the wife rented a place on the coast, she was making a grocery run. Told her to get me a bottle of this as I knew it would be on the shelf and around 20 euros. I don’t know if it changed or they send a different product to France but it wasn’t very good, drank young. Will revisit here in houston next time I see it at a bar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulO Posted August 4, 2021 Share Posted August 4, 2021 Makes me wonder, are labeling laws for Bourbon different in the E.U.? For a long time F.R. dealt in bottom shelf blended whiskey. Could they still make and ship that stuff overseas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoustonNit Posted August 4, 2021 Share Posted August 4, 2021 16 hours ago, PaulO said: Makes me wonder, are labeling laws for Bourbon different in the E.U.? For a long time F.R. dealt in bottom shelf blended whiskey. Could they still make and ship that stuff overseas. Bottling looks identical and believe it said straight bourbon, difference in size 700ml vs 750ml. I don’t know, maybe they it’s slightly different. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bayouredd Posted August 4, 2021 Share Posted August 4, 2021 On 6/12/2021 at 7:43 PM, flahute said: A little late this month but better than never so the saying goes. First, to get one item out of the way. Yes, I know the label is now beige and that "yellow label" as a name is being discouraged. But? That's how we all know and love it here so I'm letting that habit perpetuate. I also figured that since the beginning of summer is upon us and I'm seeing lots of 'out of the freezer' posts that this one is very timely. For those who don't know - Four Roses has 10 recipes they arrive at via two mashbills and five yeast strains. Small Batch is a blend of four of the recipes. Standard Single Barrel is a single recipe and always the same one (OBSV). Small Batch Select is a blend of six of the recipes. Private Selections or Store Picks will be one recipe, any of the ten, and bottled at barrel proof. And the yearly vaunted Limited Edition Small Batch is a custom blend of any number of the recipes that is different every year. Yellow Label is a blend of all ten recipes. It does not have an age statement but the 4R website says it's aged a minimum of 5 years. My taste buds would agree with that. Why do we love it so much? Despite the low proof it drinks much better than any other 80 proof bourbon I can think of. We also know that 4R will dump much older barrels into the blend when those barrels are super short (as in too low a fill to go into the single barrel program) or if they are over oaked. Now you might think "isn't that bad?" and it's a fair question. The answer is no because it's too small a quantity to pass on that flavor into the blend but the presence of those barrels can impart just a little extra complexity into this super affordable bourbon. (Lagniappe for our Louisiana friends). Because of its low proof it's also great for daytime sipping on summer days and the discovery of how good it can be coming out of the freezer makes those summer days all the better! I just finished a hot day of gardening, or yard work, (need to consult Joe's handbook to make sure I'm using the right term here), so I'm drinking some out of the freezer as I type this! Cheers all. WOW!!! Just now getting around to reading this!!! Why? Because the 80 proof doesn't mean anything to me; nor does the "all 10 recipes". How about the "at least 5 yr statement? Yep, that's where ya grabbed me!!! As I have searched for freezer pours, with several failures, I figured the masses were on to something, but not intriguing enough to give it a go. The 5 yr + needing a freezer pour, has me sold; or at least willing to give it a try... Thanx Steve for baiting the hook!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fosmith Posted August 5, 2021 Share Posted August 5, 2021 14 hours ago, bayouredd said: WOW!!! Just now getting around to reading this!!! Why? Because the 80 proof doesn't mean anything to me; nor does the "all 10 recipes". How about the "at least 5 yr statement? Yep, that's where ya grabbed me!!! As I have searched for freezer pours, with several failures, I figured the masses were on to something, but not intriguing enough to give it a go. The 5 yr + needing a freezer pour, has me sold; or at least willing to give it a try... Thanx Steve for baiting the hook!!! Evan Williams black label is really good from the freezer. The extra 3% abv gives it a bit of an edge over 4RYL, IMO, without making it hot. And it's also ~5yo and half the price of the 4R. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kepler Posted August 15, 2021 Share Posted August 15, 2021 4RYL is an excellent example of a really great all-around bourbon. Is there a better all-around choice at ~$20ish price point? I don't think so. I personally prefer WT101 and KC100 over just about anything under $40, but I can also acknowledge that those might not be for everyone. But FRYL? Who doesn't like it? It has great flavor and it doesn't repel anyone. That coupled with the healthy amount of rye spice, means that it makes just about the perfect mixing bourbon. Plus it's absolutely spectacular out of the freezer for those of us in hot climates. In fact, I just put a fresh 4RYL 1.0 Liter bottle in my freezer today. Cheers! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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