Four Roses: the bourbon that splits whisky fans

Four Roses, the bourbon that has made its way into Mercadona and divides the fans

A supermarket-shelf bourbon, a bargain price and one question that keeps coming up on the shelves: is it worth it, or is it a sweetened concoction? The answer depends on who you ask, and that's where the problem starts. Because Four Roses is no ordinary brand: according to participants in the debate, it is one of the few bourbons that complies with US law to the letter, and yet it still carries a fruta that goes beyond the liquid itself.

The key is on the label. Any bottle worthy of being called bourbon must meet strict rules: new oak barrels, a minimum corn content in the mash bill and a controlled distillation process. Four Roses does all that. The problem is not technical, it's about perception. Some argue its profile is too sweet, almost like cologne, while others defend it as an honest buy for the price. The price range in large stores sits between **12 and 20 euros**, a bracket that invites you to try it without breaking the bank.

What exactly is Four Roses and why does it spark so many opinions

Four Roses is a Kentucky bourbon with a long history and a peculiarity: its blend of two mash bills and five different yeasts yields up to ten base recipes that are then combined. That gives it a more floral, fruitier profile than other, more aggressive bourbons. For some, that character is a virtue; for others, it's an oddity that doesn't match what they expect from a classic bourbon.

Legally, the brand has nothing to hide. US law requires every bourbon to be distilled from a mash with at least 51% corn, aged in new charred oak barrels and bottled at a minimum of 40% alcohol. Four Roses meets all of it. Whether its flavour appeals to Spanish consumers, more used to Scotch whisky and local brandies, is another matter.

Comparison with other bourbons at a similar price is inevitable. **Jim Beam** comes in at around 11 euros in some stores, and **Wild Turkey 81** has been spotted at 12.45 euros at Carrefour. These are its natural rivals. Against them, Four Roses offers a different profile, smoother and more floral, which may appeal to those looking for something less aggressive or may disappoint those expecting the classic punch of bourbon.

Price isn't always a sign of quality: what those who have tried it say

Drinking experiences vary. Some describe it as a product that's not bad for the price, while others compare it outright to cologne. That disparity of opinion is no accident: bourbon is a spirit that lends itself to polarisation. Its natural sweetness, derived from corn, and its time in new oak give it a profile that leaves no one indifferent.

The context in which you drink it also matters. In Spain, bourbon doesn't have the tradition of Scotch whisky or brandy. That means the average palate isn't trained for its particularities. A habitual Scotch drinker may find bourbon too sweet and woody; a rum drinker may find it dry and boozy. In that sense, Four Roses is as good an entry point as any.

The debate over value for money has a more nuanced answer than it seems. For **under 20 euros**, Four Roses offers a product that complies with the rules, has a story behind it and doesn't lie on the label. Whether you like its profile is another thing. That comes down to personal taste, and taste isn't settled with data.

Beyond Four Roses: the problem of whisky sold as authentic when it isn't

The conversation about Four Roses soon drifts towards a broader issue: the authenticity of the whisky sold on the market. Some argue that many well-known brands are no longer what they used to be, and that colouring and additives run rampant. The litmus test, they say, is the colouring: in Germany it must be declared on the label, which makes it possible to tell whether a whisky is genuine or an imitation.

The industry's oligopoly is in the hands of four big companies: **Diageo, Pernod Ricard, Suntory and Bacardí**. Most of the brands you see on the shelves belong to one of them. That doesn't miccionan they're bad, but it does miccionan the product is becoming homogenised. Against that, there are family distilleries that still do things their own way, without colouring and without rushing, even if their output is limited and their price higher.

In the case of bourbon, the law is stricter than for Scotch whisky. That works in favour of brands like Four Roses, which can't afford certain shortcuts. The label tells the whole story: if it says **bourbon** or **straight**, the rules must be trinc. If it only says whisky, the rules are looser. That's the trap some products fall into when they're sold as bourbon without being it.

Conclusion: is Four Roses worth it?

It depends on what you're looking for. If you want an honest bourbon, compliant with the rules and at a price that doesn't scare you off, Four Roses is a reasonable option. If you're after a bold, classic profile, it may disappoint. The value for money is good, but not miraculous: for **12 euros** you can't expect a 40-euro bourbon. The question isn't whether it's good or bad, but whether it matches what you expect. And in the end, only your own palate knows that.

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This article is based on the opinions and data provided by participants in the debate. Prices are indicative and may vary depending on the retailer and the date.