Four Roses Starts New Experimental Bourbon Line
As experimental releases proliferated among the American whiskey industries legacy distillers and newcomers, Four Roses has largely left the concept alone. Whenever I asked about this or other possible expansions, the answer that came back centered on the difficulty the distillery had keeping up with the demand for their existing products. But in mid-2026, Four Roses is finally joining the club with the launch of its new Experimental Series. This limited-edition collection pushes the boundaries of the brand’s traditional 10-recipe framework.
The inaugural release, Experimental Series No. 001, is a Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey finished in rare Japanese Mizunara oak barrels. Prized in the whiskey world for its rarity and uniquely expressive flavor contribution, Mizunara oak was selected based first and foremost on flavor exploration. Throughout the finishing process, the Four Roses team monitored the barrels closely, pulling samples almost weekly to track maturation and determine the ideal balance point for each barrel individually before blending the final liquid.
“This series is an exciting new chapter for us,” says Master Distiller Brent Elliott. “It allows us to take the craftsmanship that’s been at the heart of Four Roses and apply it in entirely new ways, experimenting with finishes and techniques that reveal dimensions of flavor our fans haven’t experienced before. For me, it’s about pushing boundaries while staying true to the character of Four Roses Bourbon, and giving our fans the chance to join us on that journey of discovery.”
Experimental Series No. 001 was developed through extensive trials across recipes, yeast strains, barrel specifications, and toast and char combinations to identify the ideal pairing for Mizunara oak’s distinctive flavor profile. Ultimately, Elliott selected a six-year-old OBSK recipe for its ability to complement the oak’s layered spice characteristics while allowing its sweeter and more nuanced notes to shine through.
The packaging for Experimental Series No. 001 reflects the same balance of innovation and heritage found in the liquid itself. The shape of the front label draws inspiration from the iconic Spanish Mission-style architecture of the Four Roses Distillery in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, while the reverse label reveals one of the brand’s historic single-story rickhouses, a subtle nod to the role maturation and barrel finishing play in shaping the whiskey’s character.
Bottled in a 375ml format, Experimental Series No. 001 will be available for purchase at the Four Roses Distillery Visitor Center (SRP $55 per bottle) beginning July 30.
