In the late 1950s, Seagram’s stopped selling Four Roses Bourbon in the USA and instead started selling this: Four Roses Premium American Whiskey (blended). Before Seagram’s bought the brand in 1943, it was one of the best-selling bourbons in America. Why they decided to change it to a rotgut blend in the USA and ship the bourbon overseas is anyone’s guess.
Though, no one has ever accused the people who ran Seagram’s (into the ground) of making good decisions. The once massive drinks giant fell incredibly quick and its corporate corpse divvied up by the other large drinks companies of the day. Now, let’s get to drinkin’!
Four Roses Premium American Whiskey (blended) – Details and Tasting Notes
Whiskey Details
Style: Blended (American)
Region: USA
Distiller: Seagram’s
Blender: Four Roses
Blend: GNS and bourbon
Cask: New charred oak & used cooperage
Age: NAS
ABV: 40%
Four Roses Premium American Whiskey (blended) Price: NA – Auction, Specialty Store or Private Seller
Related Whiskey
Gambler 500 Whiskey
Seagram’s 7 Crown American Blended Whiskey
Texas Ranger Blended Whiskey
Old Scout American Whiskey
1980s Daviess County Blended Whiskey
Four Roses Premium American Whiskey (blended) Tasting Notes
EYE
Light amber
NOSE
Banana taffy, metal, stale spice, paint thinner and Peeps.
It smells worse than I described… why did they do this?
PALATE
Tastes like a musty version of the aroma. Caused an immediate spit take. This is foul.
FINISH
Short -> Musty banana Peeps
BALANCE, BODY and FEEL
No balance, thin body, and a watery feel.
Four Roses Premium American Whiskey (blended) – Overall Thoughts and Score
This is a true rotgut whiskey. The best thing I can say about it is how mercifully short the finish is; this is not a flavor you want lingering. It is so unbelievably bad, I have a hard time thinking there’s any Four Roses bourbon in here at all. I’ve had pre-Seagram’s Four Rose bourbon and it was good, and I can’t detect any of that goodness in this.
Sitting here, forcing my way through a small glass of it for this review, I can’t help but wonder about the exact thought process that went into the decision to switch from Bourbon to this? In the court of whisky, this was a crime against bourbon. A crime Seagram’s has definitely paid for. Its death was rather swift and spectacular all at the same time and many of the whiskey brands they once mismanaged went on to have great lives under different owners. Like Four Roses being brought back to life by Kirin.
Getting back to the whiskey, the Four Roses Premium American Whiskey (blended) is a foul-smelling and tasting rotgut. Among the worst I’ve had, but if you get the chance to try it definitely do. It’ll make you even more grateful for the Four Roses gracing our shelves today
SCORE: 0.5/5 (so bad it doesn’t deserve a rating ~ “F” | 0-59)
Four Roses Premium American Whiskey (blended) Review $NA
- Nose
- Palate
- Finish
- BBF
