Whisky Names Explained: Four Roses

Looking for a touch of romance? Then dive into the story behind the name Four Roses Bourbon. This Monday, we’re drifting away into the origins of the famous Lawrenceburg distillery.

The year is 1888. Paul Jones was a distiller who started the way most people did back then: he bought whiskey from both large and small distilleries and then blended it. That way, he could create a flavor profile he loved. He would bottle these batches and sell them under his own label. In America, someone who does this is called a “rectifier.” In Scotland, it’s similar to a “blender.”

The name he registered as a trademark was Four Roses. As the story goes, Paul Jones fell head over heels for a beautiful woman. He wrote her a love letter asking if she felt the same. Jones asked her to wear a corsage of roses on her dress if her answer was “yes.” A grand ball was just around the corner.

On the night of the big ball, he waited for her. His great love entered in a stunning dress. And on that dress was a corsage of four red roses.

In the end, Jones named his bourbon “Four Roses” as a symbol of his love for the woman.

Paul Jones Jr. passed away in 1895. His two cousins, Lawrence and Saunders Jones, carried on the business after his death. They managed to grow the company even further. Four Roses is still a blend of individually produced bourbons—a kind of “blended malt.” It’s high-quality whiskey with a distinctive character.

Paul Jones has long since left us, but he can be proud of his legacy: beautiful bottles of whiskey still graced with those four roses.

You can find the rest of our Whisky Names Explained in this overview.