Four Gate Whiskey Company, started by Bill Straub (founder and editor-in-chief of ModernThirst.com) and Bob D’Antoni in Kentucky, is one of a myriad of non-distilling producers across the land sourcing American whiskeys and trying to do interesting things with them. Their philosophy is that “if you start with the best whiskey, and leverage some of the best-regarded experts in the field on the effects of barrels, you wind up with an amazing whiskey that both connoisseurs and collectors alike will appreciate.” It is in this vein that they’ve released a new whiskey that’s been finished in orange curaçao gin casks.
The Four Gate Whiskey Company Outer Loop Orbit (Batch 2) bourbon, according to those behind it, is a blend of 5.5 year old bourbon and 12 year old high rye bourbon from Kentucky that’s been blended and then finished in barrels “that had once held French orange curaçao liqueur before being used to finish a batch of gin at a distillery in Louisville.” It was then bottled at what’s said to be a full barrel proof of 120.3.
“I’m usually hesitant to use something as sticky-sweet as curaçao with bourbon,” said Straub in a prepared statement, “but these reminded me instantly of a powdered orange drink I used to have as a kid. The super-sweet curaçao had been cut by the botanical gin and the result was a tangy orange that we all thought would pair perfectly with our blend.”
Four Gate partnered with the barrel experts at Kelvin Cooperage in determining the right finishing casks, and it was they who suggested the barrels that were ultimately used. As for the name Outer Loop Orbit, it is suggested by Straub that he “remember my dad telling me when I was a kid that the powdered orange drink didn’t become famous until astronauts took it to outer space in the early space missions, and we wanted to pay homage to that in the name. That’s where the ‘Orbit’ comes from.”
The other part of the name comes from D’Antoni, who said of it that “Outer Loop is the street from the mailing address for Kelvin Cooperage, so it allowed us to also pay homage to them for continuing to collaborate with us and help us succeed.”
Specifics of the release indicate that 2,402 bottles are being released to retail at a price of around $200 per 750 ml bottle. Official tasting notes can be found below.
- Appearance: Ruddy amber with bright orange notes.
- Nose: Initial burst of citrus and pine with underlying black pepper spices.
- Taste: Tangy citrus greets the front palate with heavy cinnamon and baking spices on the mid-palate. The rear of the tongue gets pine needs and slight nuttiness.
- Finish: Medium-to-long and refreshing, the citrus lingers on the periphery while black pepper and cinnamon intermingle within notes of pine and juniper.