It’s always exciting to see a project come to life. The Four Gate barrel program started with a call to Four Gate team in the summer of 2020. I was pushing hard for a private barrel. They finally gave in 2021, and in 2022 Four Gate was gracious enough to give us four barrels. We are back for another year with two barrels – a 7 year rye finished in a new toasted Kelvin cask, and a 7 year bourbon finished in a Spanish Oloroso Sherry-Dark Rum cask (which you may be familiar with from their Andalusia Key II.)

The bourbon is stewed raisins and brown butter. This nose combines the dark richness of the Sherry and Rum finishes. It’s fruity and spicy. It’s like adding a dash of cayenne powder to a fresh plum. The palate is balanced with a touch of sweetness up front. It quickly transitions to dried cherry and an herbaceous note. It’s the hint of dried rosemary as the sweeter palate moves to a long finish that makes this bourbon stand out. The finish keeps changing with each sip. Baking spice, cedar and dry cocoa are the most pronounced.

The nose of the rye is decadent. Mulled cider and orange peel open up to roasted sugar cane and chocolate covered cherries. The palate turns slightly brighter with notes of citrus oil, turbinado sugar and clove. The finish is long and warming. The 122+ proof balances nicely with toasted oak, black pepper and Arizona Ice Peach tea.