Four Gate Bourbon
Overall Score: 7.75/10
Overall Value: 3/5
Distillery: Sourced from undisclosed Kentucky and Indiana distilleries
Classification: Blend of straight bourbon and rye whiskeys finished in Australian tawny port and Barbadian dark rum casks
Company: Four Gate Whiskey Company
Release Date: Nov 2022
Proof: 111.7
Age: Blend of 6 and 7-Year Kentucky Straight Bourbon, 9-Year Indiana Straight Bourbon, and 8-Year Indiana Straight Rye Whiskey
Mashbill: 95%Rye, 5% Malted Barley
Color: Amber
MSRP: $200 (2025)
The Barrel Bros’ Review
The nose on the Four Gate Kelvin Collaboration IIII (Batch 19) opens with rich caramel and dark fruit, a direct nod to its port finish. You’ll likely catch notes of grape taffy, blueberry syrup, and even the nutty sweetness of banana or nougat. As it sits, deeper layers of browned butter, graham cracker, and toasted oak begin to emerge. It’s complex and signals a high-end experience right from the start.
The mouthfeel of the palate is where this pour shines—silky, smooth, and slow-moving across the tongue. The initial sweetness brings to mind the soft, airy center of a Three Musketeers bar, followed by a mix of red apple skin, fig, and cinnamon. It balances earthiness and spice without going overboard. There’s also a nice undercurrent of fruit—grape, apple, and even some dark plum.
While the finish leans lighter than expected, it does linger pleasantly. A touch of oak and caramel resurfaces here, joined by subtle spice and the small amount of fruit. It’s not particularly bold at the end, but the flavor does hang around long enough to leave a satisfying impression.
Four Gate Kelvin Collaboration IIII is a refined, elegant pour that rewards slow sipping. With an MSRP of $200, this is a bottle that falls squarely into the premium category. Is it worth full price? That depends on your palate.
If you’re a fan of port-finished bourbon with layered fruit and sweet undertones, this one may be worth the splurge. If you catch it on sale, even better. Our review lands it as a beautifully crafted bottle—definitely worth a try if you enjoy savoring the subtleties of high-end whiskey.
If you’re looking for specific notes from our Barrel Bros, read their individual reviews below!
Individual Reviews
The Rye Guy Says
Score: 8/10
Value: 3.5/5
THE NOSE:
The first impression is sweet with a dark fruit note, similar to blueberry syrup from IHOP.
It’s tailed closely by a nutty banana flavor, but not so grainy that I get the full muffin profile.
Fruity is definitely the overarching profile, although occasionally I get a woodiness that reminds me of opening a can of stain or shoe polish.
THE TASTE:
The mouthfeel is like silk; very pleasant and slowly making its way across the tongue. The palate reminds me of biting into a fresh red apple, not the fuji ones but the dark red apples with the thick skin.
Perhaps, it’s the extra earthiness the skin brings that is coming through in the flavor. There is also a bit of a spice to the sip.
Talking about apples, it made me think of cinnamon and I think that is pretty accurate, but not overly so.
THE FINISH:
The finish starts to bring out a bit more of the woodiness of the bourbon.
I’m definitely getting some light oak flavors but it’s pretty mild and stays sweeter rather than dry.
The flavor really sticks to the mouth well after the sip is gone.
BUY OR PASS?
It’s clear that the bourbon is really well refined. It delivers well across all the traditional aspects of bourbon. I really enjoyed the experience, but it’s hard to spend that much money.
However, for bottles over $100 this one is easily one of the better ones I’ve had.
The Hunter Says
Score: 7.5/10
Value: 2.5/5
THE NOSE:
Right away, I get rich caramel and dark fruit, likely from the port finish. There’s a bit of nougat and peanut, and also a little grape salt-water taffy.
After taking a sip, more layers come through—browned butter, graham cracker, and toasted oak.
Just from the nose, you can tell this is an expensive pour.
THE TASTE:
It feels light and buttery on the palate. There’s a beautiful sweetness that reminds me of the creamy center of a Three Musketeers bar.
On later sips, the fruit takes over—grape, apple, and fig stand out the most.
THE FINISH:
The fruitiness lingers for a bit but fades faster than I’d like.
There’s not a ton happening here. Occasionally, I’ll catch some caramel, and maybe a little oak, but it’s subtle.
BUY OR PASS?
At $200, my expectations are high. This pour has moments of real complexity, but it’s inconsistent—some sips hit an 8/10, others feel more like a 6. If you don’t take your time with it, you’ll miss a lot.
This is one of those pours where you need to slow down and savor each sip. Drink too fast, and the best parts will pass you by.
