Editor’s Note: Jeanne Runkle is our guest blogger today with her Four Roses Yellow Label review. As with our other Help Wanted applicants we ask that you share your thoughts on her post in the comments as well as online where you can find Jeanne at @LikeYourLiquor and JeanneRunkle.com.

Budget Bourbon – great taste or great waste?

Sometimes, you break out the good stuff. You sit down, you get your favorite Glencairn glass out, and you sip the night away. You might add a little water, maybe a single ice-cube, but nothing else. For me, those are usually the over $50 bottles. You sip, you savor, it’s an experience.

But then….sometimes you’re in the mood for a cocktail, so you don’t want to sink something expensive into a $6 bottle of ginger beer. This is where Four Roses Yellow label comes in. At under $25 (sometimes under $20), this is a perfect bourbon for cocktails. Plus, it’s just after the holidays – your budget will thank you.

Four Roses Yellow Label Review

Bourbon Name: Four Roses Yellow Label

Proof: 80

Age: Approximately 6 years old

How I Drank It: I did try it neat for this review, because you know, science.

My Nose Noticed:* A little alcohol burn, but mostly caramel and sweet corn. It’s 5 years old, so mostly what I’d expect.

First Sip:  A little bit of burn, but at 80 proof, it’s pretty minimal. Second sip, the burn is mostly gone, followed by an almost cotton candy sweetness, and caramel. Finish has a little bit of the barrel in it, but you’ve got to look to find it, though it is a little astringent after a couple of sips.

The Burn:** Mild but pleasant burn. Good clean finish with flavors lasting well over 30 seconds.

Neat, Splash or Rocks:  I usually drink it mixed with ginger beer. Most any brand will work, you can even get by with (gasp) Canada dry, but add a couple of dashes of orange bitters to help round it out. A bourbon punch with this bottle is great, too. Bourbon, ginger beer, peaches and mint = delicious summer punch!

Share With: Everyone! The price tag makes it an easy party staple, and the taste makes it easy for experienced and new bourbon drinkers alike.

Worth The Price: Absolutely. It’s one of the few sub-$40 bottles I regularly enjoy. And when I say few, I mean three or four, at best.

Bottle, Bar, or Bust:  Bottle and Bar – I’ll be honest, I love Four Roses, in all its forms. Yellow, Single Barrel, Small Batch, the mostly elusive Limited Edition: Four Roses makes delicious liquid. Sláinte!