Four Roses Distillery has launched Experimental Series No. 002 Honey Cask Finish, the second limited-edition release in its collection exploring flavor and maturation beyond its traditional 10-recipes. The bourbon will be available from September 18 exclusively at the Four Roses Distillery and Cox’s Creek Visitor Centers in Kentucky.
The release was inspired by Four Roses’ partnership with local honey producer Bohman Bee Company.
It explores what the brand calls “the unexpected journey of a bourbon barrel.” Four Roses barrels were first used to age honey, then returned to the distillery for a second fill of bourbon.
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According to the brand, the honey-seasoned casks impart “subtle notes of natural honey while preserving the balance and spice that define Four Roses.”
Master distiller Brent Elliott blended six-, seven- and eight-year-old bourbons from the OESQ and OBSK recipes for the release.
The blend was then finished in the honey-seasoned barrels for three to nine months.
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READ THE STORYBottled at 104 proof, the bourbon offers official tasting notes from the brand of natural honey, floral undertones, warm baking spice and a rich, lingering finish.
Experimental Series No. 002 will be sold in a 375ml format with a suggested retail price of $55.
The release continues what the brand describes as its “new phase of innovation.”
Four Roses launched its Experimental Series to move beyond the 10-recipe system that has long defined its production. The distillery uses two mashbills and five proprietary yeast strains to create its 10 distinct bourbon recipes.
The brand is owned by Kirin Brewery Company, which acquired the distillery in 2002.
Four Roses operates its main distillery in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, alongside its warehouse and bottling facility in Cox’s Creek.
The distillery’s core range includes Four Roses Bourbon, Small Batch and Single Barrel expressions.
The Experimental Series represents a departure from these established products, allowing Elliott to test alternative maturation and production techniques.
The first release in the series set the stage for further limited-edition bottlings exploring cask finishes and blending approaches. No. 002 marks the latest addition to the growing collection.
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