Last week, employees of Four Roses Distillery united for the annual Salt River Cleanup, a day dedicated to preserving the riverbank that provides the essential water source for the brand’s bourbon production.

This year, the initiatives expanded to include two additional areas along the river, making a greater impact on the community’s water sources. By the end of the event, a total of 1,380 pounds of debris had  been collected. 

This year, Four Roses partnered with the Kentucky Waterway Alliance, an organization that works with communities on local watershed issues and advocates for better policies and programs at both state and national levels, to join the cleanup efforts. The KWA educated Four Roses employees on the organization’s goals and initiatives, as well as how they can continue to protect the health of the Salt River. 

“The Salt River’s water is essential to our bourbon-making process. Its clean, limestone-rich  quality has been a key component in our whiskey production for decades,” Brent Elliott,  Master Distiller at Four Roses, said in a news release. “We have a responsibility to ourselves and to the broader community to ensure the continued pristine condition of this crucial resource and the beloved area around it.” 

The Salt River’s limestone-rich water is essential in every step of the process from  fermentation to steam production, and cooling. Four Roses will continue to host the annual  Salt River Cleanup to keep this essential water source clean, both for their bourbon  production and for the benefit of the local community. Since launching this initiative in 2017, Four Roses Distillery has successfully cleared over 4,000 pounds of debris from the 150-mile stretch of the Salt River. 

For the first time ever, a commemorative Private Barrel Selection bottle was also available to the public at the Lawrenceburg Visitor Center for $99. The bottle features one of Four Roses’ ten recipes, OBSK, and has been aged for 9 years and 6 months. The limited bottling will be  available at the distillery while supplies last.  

Read more: Four Roses Sets Release Date for 2024 LE Small Batch

KY's Salt River plays a vital role in the production of our smooth, mellow #bourbons. In our commitment to preserve this resource, we partnered w/ @KYAlliance to remove 1,380 lbs of debris from the riverbank. Cheers to everyone who helped contribute to this effort! pic.twitter.com/47TjIylks3

— Four Roses Bourbon (@4RosesBourbon) October 17, 2024

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. For more information on Four Roses’ commitment as a community partner, visit fourrosesbourbon.com/responsibility/community-partner.