Bourbon Déjà Vu: Four Roses returns to California
after 45-year absence

LAWRENCEBURG, Ky. - Bourbon connoisseurs in California may experience déjà vu, as a long-time favorite Bourbon is returning to the area after more than 45 years.
Four Roses Bourbon was the top-selling U.S. Bourbon during much of the 1930s, '40s and '50s, after which its distribution changed to focus solely overseas. The Kentucky-made Bourbon is making a comeback this July in major restaurants, bars and liquor stores throughout California with its domestic product lineup - Four Roses Single Barrel, Four Roses Small Batch and Four Roses Yellow.

"We're no strangers to California and it's great to be back," said Jim Rutledge, Four Roses Master Distiller and a Bourbon Hall of Fame member, who has been with Four Roses for more than 40 years.

In 2002, Four Roses Bourbon was re-introduced to the U.S. with distribution limited to Kentucky. Rutledge said "Four Roses has had double-digit growth every year since and has increased its barrel inventories to the level that can now support the introduction of Four Roses into other select markets."

Nationwide, Bourbon has been experiencing a resurgence, which Rutledge attributes to many distilleries in Kentucky producing and marketing ultra-premium Bourbons over the past decade. "There's no doubt that the single-barrel and small-batch craze has pulled this industry up by its bootstraps," he said.

Four Roses Single Barrel recently was named "World's Best Bourbon Whiskey - no age statement" by Whisky Magazine, and also garnered attention as "Best Bourbon - No Age Statement" among more than 150 proprietary whiskies at the 2007 Whisky Live event in New York City.

Four Roses Small Batch also has received praise, alongside Single Barrel, earning rare five-star ratings, the highest awarded by Paul Pacult's Spirit Journal, a leading liquor-industry publication.

California is one of six states outside Kentucky where Four Roses is now available. The brand returned to Colorado last month, and New York, New Jersey, Illinois and Tennessee witnessed the arrival in 2007. Further expansion will continue to be announced throughout 2008.

About Four Roses Bourbon
Produced at a historic Spanish-mission style distillery in Lawrenceburg, Ky., Four Roses production dates to the 1860s and grew to become the top-selling Bourbon in the U.S. throughout the 1930s, '40s and '50s. In the late '50s, then owner Seagram decided to market the brand solely overseas. Four Roses currently is the top-selling Bourbon brand in Japan and among the leading brands throughout Western Europe.

Kirin Brewery bought Four Roses in 2002 and, at Master Distiller Jim Rutledge's urging, reintroduced it to America - starting in Kentucky. Four Roses Single Barrel has grown to become the top-selling single barrel Bourbon in Kentucky and Four Roses Small Batch, introduced two years ago, has also received industry praise.

Four Roses is now available in Kentucky, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, Tennessee, Colorado and California and will continue expansion in other U.S. markets throughout 2008.