A very intriguing nose suggests brewed sweet tea, caramel, and eclectic fruits that span blackberry, cherry, and bruised apples, with flickers of baking spice and toasted almond. The palate is somewhat jammy, as sweet cooked fruit—damsons and currants—come sprinkled among more spice. Really beguiling and moreish with its dark fruit, perfect burnt sugar edge, and tea-like tannin on the finish. (2,474 bottles)

Reviewed by: Jeffery Lindenmuth (Fall 2020)

Distilled in Tennessee from a mashbill of 84% corn, 8% rye, and 8% malted barley. Licorice, candied melon, breakfast cereal, cream soda, vanilla ice cream, and strawberry tart on the nose. A rich palate offers balanced spice, banana, cherry cola, strawberries and cream, chocolate, and baking spice. The finish is smooth, with light earthiness, tobacco leaf, and fragrant oak, followed by brown sugar, coconut, chocolate, and spice at the back.

Reviewed by: David Fleming (Winter 2020)

Peanuts in the shell, PayDay bars, toasted grain, caramel, butterscotch, purple plums, ginger root, black tea, and layers of spice on the nose. The palate is rich and deep, with dark chocolate, roasted peanuts, blueberry pie, concord grapes, Cherry Coke, ginger, black pepper, and lush chai spices. It finishes velvety and full, with persistent dark fruits, roasted nuts, and dark chocolate. At barrel proof, this is a whiskey to explore: the more water you add, the more depths you plumb.

Reviewed by: Susannah Skiver Barton (Fall 2019)

Heady perfume of violets, fresh blueberries, purple plums, blackberry jam, and raspberry coulis, along with grape soda, antique furniture, wet walnuts, and a hint of toasted marshmallow. Equally enchanting on the palate, with candied violets, grape juice, and refined oak; add water and the fresh fruits burst forth, rich and jammy, underpinned by peppery spice, dark chocolate, pecans, and more violets. It ends with rich restraint, lengthy and mouthwatering. (748 bottles)

Reviewed by: Susannah Skiver Barton (Spring 2020)

Pleasantly earthy cellar floor and cola spices weight the sweet aromas of butterscotch ripple ice cream, cherry pie, blackberry cobbler, and chocolate chip-blueberry pancakes. There’s equal breadth on the palate, with its well-integrated flavors spanning dark chocolate and roasted peanuts, lemon peel and leathery fruit skins, and savory-sweet oak. The finish is savory with coffee and roasted pecans, lifted by white pepper and dried ginger, and lengthened almost infinitely by savory oak. (1,309 bottles)

Reviewed by: Susannah Skiver Barton (Spring 2021)

Lush cooked dark fruit and dark chocolate aromas, mingling with baking spice, earthen floor, leather, and iced tea hint at what’s to come on the palate: chocolate-covered cherries, blackberry jam, a sweep of gingerbread spices, plus fresh mint and zesty dill, all with ample depth. There’s no end to the white pepper, mocha, leathery oak, dark chocolate, and candied ginger on the finish, which remains complex and rewarding long after the glass is empty. (2,439 bottles)

Reviewed by: Susannah Skiver Barton (Spring 2021)

Part of Four Gate’s partnership with Kelvin Cooperage to create custom barrels for finishing. This expression blends two high-corn bourbons—a 9 year old and 12 year old—and finishes them in casks that first held Pedro Ximénez sherry and then rum. Aromas of pears and peach tart combine with sage and rickhouse floor. Smooth nutty sweetness on a palate of chocolate and black cherry, finishing with fruit notes that ride atop espresso and spice.

Reviewed by: David Fleming (Fall 2021)

A pleasantly oily nose, rich with botanical notes, orange peel, black licorice straps, herbs, vanilla frosting, and macaroons. The palate is sweet, with tropical notes of pineapple and mango, grapefruit, dried apricots, and gentle spice. A lengthy finish offers lemon cream pie, vanilla cream, light pepper, and tobacco, ending with a hint of bitter chocolate. A very unusual bourbon, divisive within our tasting panel, but also very unique, balanced, and flavorful.

Reviewed by: David Fleming (Spring 2020)

Earthy scents of grain and old leather against lighter fruit notes of grape and dried figs. The palate is well-balanced, with an impressive mix of fruit and spice, plus dark chocolate and caramel. The mouthfeel is jammy, creamy, rich, and extremely pleasant overall. The finish offers great length and lots of spice at the back end. The spiciness of rye meets flavorful fruit and chocolate—an excellent one. (2,168 bottles)

Reviewed by: David Fleming (Fall 2022)

A straight bourbon that was finished in barrels made with alternating charred and toasted staves. There’s plenty of wood char and pencil shavings on the nose, along with dry leaves, pine needles, tea leaves, orange peel, clove, nutmeg, cedar, sandalwood, menthol, and licorice. It’s chewy and, naturally, quite oak-forward in the mouth, with complex flavors of spice, dark cherry, black tea, and herbs—mint, licorice, sassafras, and cinnamon. More spice, semi-sweet chocolate, tea leaves, and well-integrated oak into the finish. (2,700 bottles)

Reviewed by: Susannah Skiver Barton (Spring 2020)

Initially, the nose is neutral and alcohol-laden, but notes of lemon, grape, and dried apricots gradually emerge, along with sandalwood, licorice, and herbaceousness. Spice, dark chocolate, bitter orange, and lemon show on the palate, as well as oak char, espresso, roasted walnuts, and herbs. More dark chocolate and spices ride on a long finish. Smooth but powerful, with light fruit notes emerging to balance refined herbs and spice. (1,382 bottles)

Reviewed by: David Fleming (Fall 2020)

Finished in casks that first held ruby port, then rum. The nose is dominated by mature vanilla and dark fruit aromas: blueberry syrup, Concord grape juice, and Cherry Vanilla Dr. Pepper, along with tobacco barn, tea leaf, chocolate orange, and maple syrup. It’s thick and chewy on the palate, blackberry cobbler and cherry syrup mingling with mint-flavored dark chocolate, orange oil, and well-integrated spice. The finish is soft but not shy, a gentle fade of dark fruit, dark chocolate, and candied ginger. (1,444 bottles)

Reviewed by: Susannah Skiver Barton (Summer 2021)