Bartender Scott Moore of Lexington’s Giuseppe’s restaurant claimed the 2013 “Rose Julep – Lexington” title identifying the mixologist creating the city’s best and most unique mint julep.

The first-ever Rose Julep Recipe Contest in Lexington, sponsored by Four Roses Bourbon and Tops Marketing Group, was held at The Grand Reserve on Wednesday.  A panel of celebrity judges rated the juleps based on taste, presentation and originality.  The judges included legendary Thoroughbred trainer, Kenny McPeek, Shelia Bayes of Shelia Bayes Fine Jewelry, DeAnn Stephens of 98.1 The Bull, and Seth Thompson of The Bourbon Review.

Competing restaurants and bars included:

• Shakespeare & Co – Chris Hayner
• Portofino – Joshua Naylor
• Parlay Social – Charles Cox
• Azur – Grant Inman
• Giuseppe’s – Scott Moore
• Bluegrass Tavern – Chris Evans
• Malone’s – Nate Smith
• Nick Ryan’s – Sally Dalton

Moore’s winning Rose Julep, the “Bee-Hive Julep,” calls for:

2 oz Four Roses Small Batch

½ oz brown sugar simple syrup (twice as much sugar as hot water)

Muddled half of a blood orange

Muddled basil and let sit for a minute 

Dash of bitters

Dash of balsamic vinegar 

Garnish: Take a paring knife and cut one long 1-inch wide rind of the blood orange and rap around finger tightly to resemble a rose and add small basil leaf

Award-winning mint julep recipe with Four Roses Bourbon: the 2013 “Rose Julep”

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (April 19, 2013) – Bartender Isaac Fox of Louisville’s Volare restaurant claimed the 2013 “Rose Julep” title identifying the mixologist creating the city’s best and most unique mint julep.  Fox defeated last year’s winner, Kyle Tabler, also of Volare.

The tenth annual Rose Julep Recipe Contest, sponsored by Four Roses Bourbon, was held at The Ice House on Thursday, April 18.  A panel of food and beverage elite judged the competition based on taste, presentation and originality.

Competing restaurants and bars included:

• 211 Clover Lane – Emily Hornback
• Asiatique- Jason Burns
• Doc Crow’s – Jacqueline Zykan
• Lilly’s- Mytch Law
• Martini’s Italian Bistro- Gary Gruver
• Monkey Wrench – Jared Schubert
• Silver Dollar – Adam Brietenstein
• St Charles Exchange – Colin Shearn
• Varanese- Rory McCollister
• Volare – Isaac Fox

Fox’s winning Rose Julep, “Every Rose Has Its Thorn,” calls for:

• 2 ½ oz Four Roses Single Barrel
• 1 oz fresh watermelon juice
• 1/3 oz fresh lime juice
• 1 bar spoon sugar
• ½ oz Imbue Petal and Thorn
• 12 leaves muddled mint

GRAND COCHON, is among the finale events at the Annual FOOD & WINE Classic in Aspen, the nation’s premier culinary festival, and will determine the 2013 “King or Queen of Porc.” The event includes more than 30 chef dishes, butcher demos, reserve wines, craft brews, mixologists, artisan cocktails, single vineyard mezcals, ports, a whole Heritage BBQ pig, pig-infused chocolates and an award ceremony. The winning chef will be chosen by the audience and a panel of 20 expert judges.

This spring, Four Roses Distillery will issue the newest release in its series of limited-quantity special bottlings with the 2013 Limited Edition Single Barrel Bourbon, which will be bottled at barrel strength and feature spicy characteristics of cinnamon, nutmeg and brown sugar. 

Four Roses Master Distiller Jim Rutledge personally selected a 13-year-old bourbon that uses Four Roses’ recipe coded OBSK, one of the ten uniquely handcrafted bourbon recipes produced by the Lawrenceburg, Ky.-based distillery. The new bourbon exhibits an aroma of orange peel and fresh gingerbread, with flavor characteristics of fresh honey, brown sugar and cinnamon along with light mint and wild berries. The palate offers flavors of dark chocolate truffle and spiced cookies encompassing a soft, smooth and mellow finish. 

“Occasionally we come across some really special barrels and that is what we have found with this Limited Edition Single Barrel,” said Rutledge.  “Upon tasting this bourbon straight from the barrel, I immediately checked the available barrels in hopes we had a sufficient quantity to share this special Bourbon with our customers.Even at barrel strength, it’s easy to drink on the rocks or neat.”

Four Roses’ ten distinct recipes allow the distillery to continually offer a variety of unique, limited-edition single barrel bottlings.

A barrel strength bottling offers bourbon enthusiasts the opportunity to taste straight from the barrel, when the bourbon is uncut and non-chill filtered.  At a proof range between 100.6 and 114.4, approximately 4,000 bottles of the Four Roses 2013 Limited Edition Single Barrel Bourbon are planned for distribution in mid-April to U.S. markets where the brand is currently available. 

In November, for the third consecutive year and fourth time in six years, Four Roses Distillery was named 2013 “Whisky Distiller of the Year – America” by worldwide whisky industry publication, Whisky Magazine, during the annual Icons of Whisky Awards. 

This year marks 125 years of perseverance for Four Roses, which is highlighted at www.yearofthetoast.com, a website celebrating the milestone anniversary and allowing visitors to view a number of toasts for any occasion, read toasting tips and submit a toast. One toast will be selected to be featured on next year’s Limited Edition Single Barrel offering, along with the name and hometown of the person who submitted it.

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With three of three judges’ votes, the Four Roses barrel numbered ME-83J was selected as the bourbon to be served aboard the Belle of Cincinnati. A separate panel chose the bourbon for the Belle of Louisville. With two of three judges’ votes, the barrel numbered ME-83C was selected as the bourbon for the Belle of Louisville. Both selected bourbons were aged nine years.

“I was very happy this year that both boats had the opportunity to choose their own barrel,” said Jim Rutledge, Four Roses Master Distiller. “The barrels they were choosing from featured our OBSV recipe – with yeast that generates light, delicate fruity flavor. I’m confident that passengers on both boats will be in for a real treat.”

For the first time ever, passengers onboard both boats will have the opportunity to sample the two bourbons and vote for their favorite. The boat with the winning bourbon will receive a mint julep trophy and bragging rights for a year. Commemorative bottles from each vessel will also be available for purchase at the Galt House in the 3rd Floor Spirits and More shop.

For more information about the Great Steamboat Race, visit www.kdf.org

Penny Chenery, owner of Secretariat, last week selected a Four Roses Single Barrel Bourbon to celebrate the 40^th Anniversary Triple Crown win of the best and most popular thoroughbred in racing history.

Chenery’s private selection took place at the Four Roses warehouse and bottling facility located in Cox’s Creek, Ky., and was conducted by Four Roses Hall of Fame Master Distiller Jim Rutledge.

Four Roses will produce 3,500 commemorative Secretariat bottles containing Chenery’s private bourbon selection.  The front of the bottle will feature an image of Secretariat with Ron Turcotte. One side will list Secretariat’s unmatched finishing times in the three races of the Triple Crown: the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes.  The neck of the bottle is adorned with the blue and white checks of the Meadow Stables jockey silks.

The commemorative bottle will be available for purchase this spring at select retail outlets along the Triple Crown trail in Kentucky, Maryland and New York.  These bottles will also be available for purchase at the Kentucky Derby Museum.

“Fast horses and fine Bourbon are two of my favorite things. I am delighted to partner with Four Roses and the Kentucky Derby Museum for this very special product for racing fans and Bourbon connoisseurs alike,” says Chenery.

Thoroughbred legend, Secretariat, is widely renowned as the most popular name in thoroughbred racing. Beginning with his run in the 99^th Kentucky Derby, Secretariat, smashed long-standing track records in 1973 and captured the hearts of Americans through his Triple Crown sweep. The chestnut champion affectionately known as “Big Red,” and Chenery became an inspiration to many in a story of will, determination and pure speed.

“These will be very special bourbons, honoring a very special horse,” said Four Roses’ Jim Rutledge.

Proceeds from the sale of the commemorative bottle will be dedicated to preserving the history of the Kentucky Derby at the Kentucky Derby Museum and to the Secretariat Foundation benefitting equine-related causes within the racing industry.

For more information, visit www.fourrosesbourbon.com, www.derbymuseum.org, or www.secretariat.com.

Single Barrel Bourbon to be selected by Secretariat owner Penny Chenery; Collector’s bottle features checks of blue and white jockey silk

(Immediate Release: Lawrenceburg, KY) – Four Roses Bourbon’s celebration of the 40^th anniversary of Secretariat’s record-breaking Triple Crown is off and running. After announcing a partnership with the Kentucky Derby Museum last month, the distillery today released images of a commemorative Four Roses Single Barrel bottle honoring Secretariat.

Secretariat’s owner, Penny Chenery, with Four Roses Master Distiller Jim Rutledge, will select the single barrel bourbon during a visit next week to Four Roses’ warehouse and bottling facility in Cox’s Creek, Ky.

Four Roses Limited Edition Secretariat Bottle

The front of the bottle will feature an image of Secretariat with jockey Ron Turcotte, while one side will list Secretariat’s unmatched finishing times in the three races of the Triple Crown: the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes. The neck of the bottle is adorned with the blue and white checks of the Meadow Stables jockey silks.

Four Roses will produce only 3,500 Secretariat bottles, which will be available for purchase this spring at select retail outlets along the Triple Crown trail in Kentucky, Maryland and New York. The Secretariat bottles also will be available for purchase at the Kentucky Derby Museum in Louisville, Ky., beginning April 27.  Jim Rutledge will be available for bottle signings that day at the museum’s gift shop from 1 to 3 p.m.

Secretariat is widely renowned as the best and most popular thoroughbred in racing history. Beginning with his run in the 99^th Kentucky Derby, Secretariat smashed long-standing track records in 1973 and captured the hearts of Americans during his Triple Crown sweep. Those records still stand to this day. The chestnut champion affectionately known as “Big Red,” and his owner, Penny Chenery, became an inspiration to many in a story of will, determination and pure speed.

“These will be very special bourbons, honoring a very special horse,” said Master Distiller Jim Rutledge.

Proceeds from the sale of the Secretariat bottle will be dedicated to preserving the history of the Kentucky Derby at the Kentucky Derby Museum and to the Secretariat Foundation benefitting equine-related causes within the racing industry.

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2012 Four Roses Small Batch Limited Edition selected “American Whiskey of the Year.”

The Whisky Advocate Awards, now in their 19^th year, are the oldest and longest-running annual whisky award program. The award-winners will be highlighted in the magazine’s Spring 2013 issue this March. The awards are “a recognition of a combination of excellence, innovation, tradition, and…simply great-tasting whisky,” according to the magazine’s online blog.

Four Roses 2012 Limited Edition Small Batch Bourbon was released last September. Master Distiller Jim Rutledge hand selected four recipes from the distillery’s ten to make up the limited Small Batch offering, one being a 17-year-old bourbon coming from Four Roses’ OBSV recipe, which encompasses delicate fruit, spicy and creamy characterisics.  In addition, the 2012 Limited Edition Small Batch also includes a 12-year-old OBSK, a 12-year-old OESK as well as an 11-year-old OBSV, all married together to create one of Four Roses’ most alluring spirits ever.

Among the flavor characteristics, the new bourbon exhibits an aroma of creamy vanilla and citrus with hints of allspice, nutmeg and rich pipe tobacco.  The palate offers mellow flavors of orange peel and ripe red raspberries, dark chocolate and caramel custard, finishing with soft cedar and vanilla.

Whisky Advocate publisher and editor, John Hansell, wrote “This, to me, is benchmark Four Roses: subtly complex, vibrant, yet fully matured. …Your decision shouldn’t be whether to buy it, but rather how much water to add.”
When the bourbon was released, Rutledge said “this year’s small batch selection might just be one of our finest selections to date.”

The award caps a big year for Four Roses. In addition to the Whisky Advocate honor, Four Roses Distillery was named “Whisky Distiller of the Year – America” for the third consecutive year by international whiskey industry publication, Whisky Magazine late last year.

For more information about Four Roses Bourbon, visit www.fourrosesbourbon.com or “Like” us at www.facebook.com/fourrosesbourbon.

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