Four Roses 100-Proof

Finally, the Yellow Label Grew Up. There are certain bourbons that have always occupied a special place on my shelf. Not because they're rare. Not because they're expensive. Not because bourbon hunters are camping outside liquor stores hoping to score one. They're there because they consistently deliver.

For me, Four Roses Bourbon, affectionately known by many of us as the "Yellow Label" (or tan label, depending on the era), has always been one of those bottles. And now, after years of wishing for it, Four Roses has finally given us something many bourbon fans have quietly wanted for decades: a 100-proof version of the flagship Four Roses Bourbon.

A Little Four Roses History

The Four Roses story dates back to the late 1800s and remains one of bourbon's most recognizable brands. The modern Four Roses Distillery in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky is famous for producing ten unique bourbon recipes by combining two mash bills with five proprietary yeast strains. That approach gives Four Roses an incredible range of flavor profiles ranging from delicate and floral to rich and spicy.

For many years, Four Roses was better known overseas than here at home. After being acquired by Kirin in 2002, the brand experienced a renaissance in the United States, becoming one of the bourbon world's most respected names.

And now the brand enters another new chapter. In 2026, E. & J. Gallo completed its acquisition of Four Roses from Kirin Holdings, bringing the historic bourbon brand back under American family ownership. Importantly, Four Roses has stated that the existing production team remains in place, including Master Distiller Brent Elliott. For bourbon fans, that's welcome news.

What Exactly Is Four Roses 100 Proof?

This is not the familiar Single Barrel expression. This is the flagship Four Roses Bourbon turned up from 80 proof to 100 proof. According to Four Roses, the release was developed in response to bartender feedback. Bartenders loved the approachable flavor profile of the flagship bourbon but wanted something with a little more backbone for cocktails like Old Fashioneds and Manhattans.

The Recipe Behind the Original Yellow Label

One of the things that makes Four Roses unique is its use of multiple recipes.

The traditional flagship Four Roses Bourbon is a blend of all ten Four Roses recipes, created from:

Two mash bills:

Mash Bill B: 60% corn, 35% rye, 5% malted barley

Mash Bill E: 75% corn, 20% rye, 5% malted barley

Five proprietary yeast strains:

V – delicate fruit, spicy and creamy

K – spicy, full bodied

O – floral (rose petal), spicy, medium bodied

Q – slightly fruity, spicy, medium bodied

F - herbal

Those combinations create the ten recipes bourbon geeks love to debate and memorize. The standard Yellow Label has always been designed as the approachable ambassador of the brand, showcasing the entire Four Roses flavor spectrum rather than highlighting a single recipe.

Tasting Notes

Eye: Amber with evenly spaced lines shimmering in my Glencairn glass. A beautiful presentation that immediately signals there's a little more substance here than the traditional 80-proof offering.

Nose: Vanilla perfectly balanced with floral, fruit, and spice notes. It's like walking into a small-town bakery at Christmas. Warm baked goods. Sweet vanilla. Gentle spice. A touch of orchard fruit. Everything working together exactly as it should.

Palate: Smooth and silky and true to the nose. Nothing overpowers the other. Perfectly balanced. This is classic Four Roses. The floral characteristics remain intact. The fruit notes are still there. The high-rye recipe provides structure without becoming aggressive. The additional proof doesn't fundamentally change the bourbon. It simply magnifies everything that made the original great in the first place.

Finish: Slightly drying and leading to a charred oak and spice crescendo. Vanilla, oak, and baking spices linger pleasantly before slowly fading away. Longer and more satisfying than the traditional flagship expression.

Overall: I've always felt that Four Roses Yellow Label was one of the more underrated bourbons available and always drank like a higher proof than its modest 80 proof would suggest. And I've also always wished it came in a higher proof to stand up tall and straight in a cocktail or over ice.

Our friends at Gallo appear to have taken a great first step toward expanding the Four Roses lineup and carrying this iconic brand into the future. The beauty of this release is that it doesn't try to become something it's not. It doesn't need a fancy finish. It doesn't need a secondary barrel. It doesn't need limited-edition packaging. It doesn't need a lottery.

It's simply the Four Roses many of us have been drinking for years, presented at a proof point that allows the whiskey's character to shine even brighter. Sometimes innovation isn't about creating something new. Sometimes it's about finally giving people what they've been asking for all along. And in this case, Four Roses got it exactly right.