Four Roses Black is a Japan-exclusive release, so it isn’t something you’ll find at a typical US liquor store — I’ve seen it through specialty Japanese-import retailers for around $40 to $45 as of September 2026, and Kaz originally reviewed it in Japan at around ¥3,800. I drink it neat most of the time for reviews, and it also worked well diluted, on the rocks and in a highball. For more from this category, see our Bourbon reviews, including Four Roses Single Barrel — a different, US-standard expression from the same distillery — or Dram Verdict’s Single Barrel vs Small Batch Bourbon guide for more on how bourbon formats differ.
Four Roses Black Review
The Verdict
3.5/ 5
Spicy Floral Balanced
Best for
Drinkers who want an approachable, moderately spiced bourbon that isn't harsh or one-note, and who don't mind that it's a Japan-market release rather than a US-standard bottling. Less suited to those chasing real depth, richness or a big, sweet, fruit-forward style.
Quick Verdict
Four Roses Black is a Japan-exclusive Kentucky Straight Bourbon with a warm, cinnamon-and-nutmeg-like spiciness balanced by vanilla, florals and a touch of orchard fruit. It's well-rounded rather than sharp or aggressive, and it holds up reasonably well across most ways of drinking it. It's a solid pick if you want an easy-drinking, moderately spiced bourbon, though it won't satisfy anyone chasing real depth or a bigger, more intense pour.
Bottle Information
Four Roses Black (also labeled Four Roses Black Label) is a Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey sold exclusively in the Japanese market, alongside the brand's higher-tier Four Roses Super Premium. The base bourbon is distilled at Four Roses Distillery in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, and has historically been bottled in Japan at Kirin's Gotemba Distillery in Shizuoka. It carries no formal single-number age statement, though it is commonly described by retailers as a blend of bourbons aged 8 to 10 years — older, per those same sources, than Four Roses' standard release. Four Roses was owned by Kirin Holdings from 2002 until April 2026, when the brand — including its Kentucky distillery operations — was acquired by E&J Gallo; Four Roses Black originated as, and remains, part of the Kirin-era Japan-exclusive lineup. It's bottled at 40% ABV (80 proof) in a 700ml format.
Whisky Specs
- Country
- United States
- Region
- Kentucky
- Distillery
- Four Roses
- Brand
- Four Roses
- Category
- Bourbon
- Age
- No age statement (retailers describe an 8-10 year blend)
- ABV
- 40% ABV
- Cask
- New charred oak
- Volume
- 700ml (Japan market)
- Value
- Fair
Tasting Review
Tasting Notes
- Nose
- A mellow, spicy nose with a touch of alcohol presence. Vanilla, spice, herbal notes, grain and apricot sit alongside oak.
- Palate
- Some alcohol warmth here too, though it's not particularly bothersome, with a warm, cinnamon-and-nutmeg-like spiciness running through it. Vanilla, spice, floral notes and herbal character carry through, backed by oak.
- Finish
- A moderately lingering dry, spicy, woody finish.
Flavor Profile
- Sweetness 2 / 5
- Fruit 2 / 5
- Spice 3 / 5
- Oak 2 / 5
- Smoke / Peat 0 / 5
- Body 2 / 5
Pros
- Balances warm, cinnamon-and-nutmeg-like spice with vanilla and floral notes without ever turning harsh — an easy-drinking style of bourbon.
- Genuinely versatile across serves — it held up well neat, on the rocks, with water and in a highball.
Cons
- Doesn't offer much depth or richness on its own — drinkers looking for a bigger, more complex or sweeter bourbon will likely find it a little restrained.
Final Verdict
Four Roses Black balances a warm, cinnamon-and-nutmeg-like spiciness with vanilla, florals and a touch of fruit, and it manages that without ever feeling harsh or aggressive. Where it falls short of a higher score is depth: on its own neat, it doesn't have a lot of richness or complexity to dig into, and drinkers looking for something bigger, sweeter or more fruit-forward may find it a little restrained. It's a genuinely versatile bottle across different serves, and it's an easy bourbon to recommend to someone who wants something balanced and easy-drinking rather than intense. Since it's a Japan-exclusive release, US buyers will need to look at specialty import retailers rather than standard liquor stores, and availability and pricing can vary accordingly.
Other Ways to Drink It
Dram Verdict's core Nose, Palate, Finish and Score above are tasted neat. These are Kaz's notes on other ways he's actually tried this bottle.
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With Water
Much easier to drink this way, though the character is roughly halved — sweetness and fruit come through better, but a smaller splash of water works better than a full twice-up pour.
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On the Rocks
Clean and crisp, with the alcohol presence fading and easy drinking, though it loses a little depth and satisfaction.
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Highball
Also clean and refreshing — the lingering spice and herbal freshness pair well with the soda's crispness.