Four Roses 2017 Al Young 50th Anniversary Limited Edition

Barrel strength. Non-chill filtered. A tribute to Al Young — Master Distiller at Four Roses for 50 years — assembled from the finest barrels of all 10 Four Roses bourbon recipes.

Al Young joined Four Roses in 1967 and served for half a century as the distillery's defining creative force — the longest-serving Master Distiller in the brand's history. The 2017 50th Anniversary Limited Edition was produced to honor that milestone: a one-time, barrel-strength release drawing from Four Roses' full library of 10 bourbon recipes, non-chill filtered, assembled to represent the pinnacle of what the distillery's unique multi-recipe system can achieve.

Four Roses is unique in American bourbon for using 10 distinct recipes — two mashbills (high-rye OBSB at 35% and low-rye OBSK at 20%) crossed with five proprietary yeast strains (V, K, O, Q, F), each producing a different flavor character. The Al Young 50th Anniversary draws from barrels of all 10, with each component contributing its particular character to a blend that represents Al Young's full creative range across five decades.

Tasting Notes

• Appearance: Deep amber with warm golden highlights.
• Nose: Sweet caramel and floral honeysuckle — inviting and complex.
• Palate: Fresh peaches and apricots giving way to fig and rich oak — the multi-recipe blend produces a fruit complexity no single recipe alone can match.
• Finish: A hint of mint — clean, refreshing, and long.

Specs

• Distillery: Four Roses, Lawrenceburg, Kentucky
• Style: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Recipes: All 10 Four Roses bourbon recipes
• Bottling: Barrel strength, non-chill filtered
• Release: 2017 Al Young 50th Anniversary Limited Edition
• Size: 750ml

Explore the full Four Roses collection or browse all bourbon at Wooden Cork.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Who is Al Young? Al Young joined Four Roses in 1967 and served for 50 years as the distillery's Master Distiller and brand ambassador. He is credited with preserving Four Roses' unique 10-recipe system and overseeing its revival as a premium American bourbon after years of being sold primarily in export markets. His 50-year tenure is the longest in Four Roses history.
• How does the Al Young 50th Anniversary differ from the annual Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch? The annual Limited Edition uses a hand-selected subset of the 10 recipes each year. The Al Young 50th draws from all 10 at barrel strength — a broader and more ambitious blend. As a one-time tribute release it will not be produced again, making it meaningfully rarer than the annual LE series.
• What are Four Roses' 10 bourbon recipes? Two mashbills — OBSB (35% rye) and OBSK (20% rye) — crossed with five proprietary yeast strains (V, K, O, Q, F), each producing a different flavor character ranging from delicate floral to bold fruit to spice. The combination produces 10 distinct bourbons, all from the same distillery.
• Is the 2017 Al Young 50th Anniversary still available? In limited quantities through specialty retailers. As a one-time tribute release it was produced in limited supply and is now years out of primary distribution.