Four Gate Triple Oak Review
Batch 29
I tried a flight of Four Gate bourbons finished in Kelvin Cooperage barrels last year during the Kentucky Bourbon Festival at a cool speakeasy bar called The Volstead Lounge and very much enjoyed them. So naturally, I am excited to pour myself a Glenn and work on this Four Gate Triple Oak review.
Four Gate Triple Oak is a Kentucky Straight Whiskey produced by Four Gate Whiskey Company. It has a mash bill of 80% corn, 11% rye, and 9% malted barley. This whiskey underwent a unique aging process, being aged in three different barrels for a total of 7 years and 9 months.
Initially, the whiskey was aged for 7 years and 2 months in used barrels (assumed to be bourbon barrels). Following this, Four Gate Whiskey re-barreled it into new No. 3 charred barrels from Kelvin Cooperage and aged for 5 months. Finally, it was transferred again into new medium-toasted casks, also from Kelvin Cooperage, and aged an additional 2 months. Due to its initial aging in used barrels, as opposed to new barrels, Four Gate Triple Oak does not qualify for the “bourbon” designation, and therefore is listed as Kentucky Straight Whiskey.
Series: Numbered Batch Series
Classification: Kentucky Straight Whiskey
Finished in: New #3 charred and new toasted barrels
Age: 7 years
Proof: 107.6
Proof Designation: Barrel Proof
Filtered Status: Non-Chill Filtered
Mash bill: 80% Corn, 11% Rye, 9% Malted Barley
Barrel Char Level: ??
Barrel Entry Proof: ??
Distillate Source: Undisclosed Kentucky distillery
Distillery: Undisclosed
Company: Four Gate Whiskey Co.
Bottled By: Four Gate Whiskey Co.
Distilled/Aging Location: Bardstown, Kentucky
Chief Blending Officer: Bill Straub
Release Date: 2024
Batch Notes: 3,798 barrels
MSRP: $199
Secondary Market: $350
Availability: Low/Rare
Four Gate Triple Oak Review
May 14, 2025
My tasting reviews are unique in that I include the notes of several well-known whiskey critics. The hope is that this format will help me and others to explore and expand their tasting experience. After you have taken your own tasting notes, read the reviews and see if there is a flavor note that others discerned that now you can detect as well.
For this tasting: Opened Bottle (about 1 week), Glencairn Glass, Neat, Room Temp, Breathe: 5 minutes.
Legs
After swirling the glass, beads begin to form on the crown at about 7 seconds, the legs form at about 19 seconds, and the first legs reach the bowl at about 35 seconds.
Nose
The nose is surprisingly light, with sweet oak, a hint of caramel, and a mild smokiness.
Other Reviewer’s Perceptions
My Bourbon Journey: Candied green apple, fantastic baking spices, a little candied corn aspect, pie crust, a light chocolate note, nice cinnamon, medium oak, light to medium brown sugars, some confectionary sweetness, and maybe a slight nutty characteristic.
NorthWest Bourbon: Mixed nuts, apple, caramel, peanut, Payday candy bar, dark wood notes, barrel char.
Four Gate: na
Palate
Dark caramel, cardamon, a hint of licorice, baking spices, black pepper, toasted oak, dried sweet apple, leather, tobacco, a mild vanilla.
Other Reviewer’s Perceptions
My Bourbon Journey: Caramel covered green apple, very quickly followed by incredible spice, lots of baking spice, a hint of black pepper, candied corn, pie crust, slight nuttiness, hint of vanilla.
NorthWest Bourbon: Honey, some bitterness, caramel, peanut butter, apple.
Four Gate: There is a distinct semi-sweet pie crust note throughout with green orchard fruits and strong baking spice and vanilla.
Finish
The finish is medium-long with caramel, cloves, tobacco, barrel char, toasted oak, brown sugar, a hint of nuts.
Other Reviewer’s Perceptions
My Bourbon Journey: Caramel covered green apple, a decent mouthfeel with a little bit of creaminess
NorthWest Bourbon: The viscosity is ridiculous.
Four Gate: na
Mouthfeel
The mouthfeel isn’t watery, but isn’t quite silken either. It is ok, but does leave a bit to be desired.
Mouthfeel Rating Guide: Thin = Watery | Silken = smooth & slippery, but not mouth coating | Creamy = coats the tongue like heavy cream does. | Rich or Unctuous = coats the entire palate like quality olive oil
The Burn
5 out of 5. This means that the burn from the alcohol is a good deal lower than what I would expect it to be. I would guess this to be around 95 proof, not 107.6 proof.
Tasting Summary
The Four Gate Triple Oak hits the palate with an initial burst of sweetness that is quickly balanced with a mildly smokey barrel char that intermingles nicely with the sweetness. It is a pleasant, satisfying pour, but isn’t very complex in flavor.
Pass, Bar, Buy, or Bunker?
Rating: BAR- I’d try a sample of this before deciding to purchase.
Rating Scale:
PASS – I wish that I had never put this in my mouth!
BAR – It is tasty but is also expensive…I suggest trying this in a bar before purchasing it.
BUY – I would buy it once…maybe more.
BUNKER – Love this! I want a back-up bottle…or 3.
My Rating – 7.7
The higher the score the better the whiskey is in my opinion. For reference, my best rated bottle so far is the George T. Stagg 2022 (138.7p) with a score of 9.7.
| Score Type | Score | Examples |
| Likability Score | 7.7 | 1.0 – 10.0 |
My Tasting Notes
A blank version of this tasting notes wheel is available in both a color and a black & white version in the member’s area.
Notes and History
Four Gates selections as of June 2025 include 5 major brands:
Flagship Series
- Split Stave™ by Kelvin: Batch 1
- Split Stave™ by Kelvin: 2023
Kelvin Collaboration Series
- Kelvin Collaboration
- Kelvin Collaboration II
- Kelvin Collaboration III
- Kelvin Collaboration IIII
- Kelvin Collaboration V
- Kelvin Collaboration VI
Special Releases
- Indiana Foundation 14yr
- Kelvin Sixty
- Eagle Thief
Majestic Wood Series
- Brazilian Amburana Oak
- Japanese Mizunara Oak
The Numbered Series
- Batch 29 – Triple Oak
- Batch 28 – Kelvin Collaboration V
- Batch 27 – Split Stave By Kelvin
- French Oak Rye
- Batch 26 – Andalusia Key Ii
- Batch 25 – Andalusia Key Rye
- Batch 24 – Brbn Downunder
- Batch 23 – Barossa Creek
- Batch 22 – Indiana Foundation
- Batch 21 – Port Perryperry
- Batch 20 – Four By Four
- Batch 19 – Kelvin Collaboration Iiii
- Batch 18 – Saint Charente
- Batch 17 – Split Stave Brrye
- Batch 16 – Rye Downunder
- Batch 15.1, 15.2, & 15.3 – The Bluegrass Trilogy
- Batch 14 – Old Sherry Pike
- Batch 13 -River Kelvin Rye
- Batch 12 – Kelvin Collaboration Iii
- Batch 11 – Ruby Rye Springs
- Batch 10 – Split Stave™ By Kelvin (Rye)
- Batch 9 – Andalusia Key
- Batch 8 – Tennessee Foundation
- Batch 7 – River Kelvin Rye
- Batch 6 – Kelvin Collaboration Ii
- Batch 5 – Foundation
- Batch 4 – Split Stave™ By Kelvin
- Batch 3 – Foundation
- Batch 2 – Outer Orbit Loop
- Batch 1 – Kelvin Collaboration
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