The KY Bourbon Trail Revisited: Four Roses
Distillery
There was a lot to like about Four Roses before but now they've really kicked it up a notch with the recent opening of the distillery's expanded visitor center in Lawrenceburg, KY.
It's not been that long since my last visit to the Kentucky Bourbon Trail but it sure seems like it considering all the changes over the last two years. Bourbon is enjoying a surge in popularity that just keeps getting stronger as people around the world learn about the premium whiskeys coming out of Kentucky these days. Four Roses is one of the trail's distilleries to expand their physical location to meet increased visitor traffic.
I met my old high school buddy Paul Enscombe at Four Roses a few weeks ago and we took in the new addition to the distillery. Paul, who lives just down the road from the distillery, told me I'd like the new visitor center and, as usual, he was right. The place, full of exposed wood and stone work, reminds me of an upscale bar with an excellent gift shop that just happens to sell some world class bourbon. The new space, with its exposed stone and wood, is just right for sipping bourbon.
The tour is a great part of the Four Roses experience. The distillery is on a fairly narrow country lane just off Highway 150 south of Lawrenceburg and it's quite a surprise when the mission style buildings appear in the rural countryside. Touring the facilities just adds to the unique experience of being at a place that makes a product that's enjoyed all over the planet.
After we did the tour and tasting, we made our way over to Paul's place where he told me he had a surprise waiting. As I belly up to the bar in his den, he placed three bottles of three different releases of Four Roses Limited Edition Single Barrel Bourbon. Master Distiller, Jim Rutledge, has taken great pains to pick the best barrels of bourbon and bottling them at barrel strength for that pure uncut bourbon flavor along with a very high alcohol proof.
As we slowly worked our way through a few small samples of each bottle I was surprised that even though the alcohol heat was definitely there, it was well balanced by the bold and beautiful flavors of well aged bourbon. With a few drops of spring water, the flavors opened up even more.
If you have even a passing interest in bourbon and how it gets made, go to Lawrenceburg, KY and follow the signs along US150 to Four Roses Distillery and, for more information, visitwww.fourrosesbourbon.com
Published by Stephen Pinder
Stephen loves travel and travel writing. He also enjoys sports and golf with old friends and new ones he meets on the road. View profile
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