LOUISVILLE, Ky. (August 20, 2020) – While the Belle of Louisville won’t be racing the Belle of Cincinnati in the Kentucky Derby Festival Great Steamboat Race this year, Four Roses will still recognize the time-honored event on land with a commemorative Single Barrel Bourbon.

For the past 15 years, Four Roses has joined with the Kentucky Derby Festival and race participants to hand-select Bourbons to serve on board the racing vessels. This year, Four Roses Master Distiller Brent Elliott, Kentucky Derby Festival President & CEO Matt Gibson, Belle of Louisville Captain Mark Doty, Chuck Osbourne with Kroger and other local Bourbon tasters gathered online for a first of its kind tasting to select the barrel that would be bottled in honor of the 2020 Great Steamboat Race.

It was the first time such a barrel selection was conducted virtually, and the group chose a Bourbon from Four Roses’ OBSV recipe, bottled at a 100 proof.

“The Great Steamboat Race is a flagship event leading up to the Kentucky Derby,” said Four Roses Master Distiller Brent Elliott. “Although we won’t be celebrating as we usually do onboard this year, I look forward to raising a glass and honoring this annual tradition leading up to the 146th Run for the Roses this September.”

Four Roses combines two mashbills with five proprietary yeast strains to distill and age 10 distinct Bourbon recipes, each with its own unique flavor profile.

“The OBSV chosen for this year’s Great Steamboat Race offers robust, full-bodied flavor, with a long and smooth finish,” said Elliott.

The bottling features a special side label to commemorate the Great Steamboat Race and will be available in limited quantities for purchase at select Louisville-area Kroger Wine & Spirits locations, this Derby season, while supplies last.
About Four Roses Distillery

Established in 1888, Four Roses combines two mashbills with five proprietary yeast strains to distill and age 10 distinct Bourbon recipes, each with its own unique flavor profile. With distilling and warehousing operations in Lawrenceburg and Cox’s Creek, Kentucky, respectively, Four Roses is dedicated to producing award-winning Bourbons with smooth and mellow tastes and finishes. Four Roses is available in all 50 states. For more information, visit www.fourrosesbourbon.com or find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.