Four Roses Distillery Marks Ninth Year of Giving Back with Salt River Cleanup and Limited Bottle Release
Team members take action to protect the limestone-rich waterway essential to bourbon-making
September 26, 2025 (LAWRENCEBURG, KY) – For the ninth consecutive year, Four Roses Distillery employees gathered to take part in the Salt River Cleanup, an initiative focused on preserving the river that provides the limestone-rich water essential to the bourbon-making process. This year’s cleanup expanded beyond the Distillery’s immediate surroundings, with volunteers removing litter and debris from two access points-Dry Branch Road Access and Salt River Ramp 3 Access-located 20–30 minutes away. In total, employees collected 880 pounds of waste from the river and its banks this year.
This year’s cleanup was once again held in partnership with the Kentucky Waterway Alliance (KWA), a statewide nonprofit that works to protect and restore waterways through community action and advocacy. KWA staff joined employees onsite, sharing insights into ongoing watershed initiatives and providing guidance on how individuals can contribute to the long-term health of the Salt River.
“The Salt River has always been at the heart of what we do at Four Roses. Its clean, mineral-rich water shapes the character of our bourbon, and we embrace our responsibility to protect this resource for generations to come,” said Brent Elliott, Master Distiller at Four Roses. The Salt River plays an important role throughout the bourbon-making process, contributing to fermentation, steam production, and cooling. Since launching the cleanup effort in 2017, Four Roses employees have cleared more than 4,800 pounds of debris from the 150-mile stretch of river. The annual initiative remains a cornerstone of the Distillery’s sustainability and community engagement efforts.
To commemorate this year’s event, Four Roses released a new limited Private Barrel Selection bottle, available exclusively at the Lawrenceburg Visitor Center for $120. This special release debuts the Distillery’s new Private Barrel Selection label, designed to reflect the individuality of each single barrel. The woodgrain pattern nods to the oak barrels where the whiskey matured, while rivet details on the neck label mirror the hardware that secures each cask. The OBSK recipe was aged for 9 years and 11 months, with 50% of bottle sales supporting the Kentucky Waterway Alliance.
For more information on Four Roses’ commitment as a community partner, visit fourrosesbourbon.com/responsibility/community-partner.
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 available in all 50 states. This past year, Four Roses received 58 awards, including 2 Double Platinum medals, 3 Platinum medals, 9 Double Gold medals, and 26 Gold medals from esteemed competitions such as the American Whiskey Masters and Whiskies of the World. Among these accolades, Four Roses was also named World’s Best Single Barrel at the World Whiskies Awards, further cementing its place among the world’s most celebrated bourbon producers. For more information, visit www.fourrosesbourbon.com or find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
