Four Gate Whiskey Co. has announced the arrival of two new limited edition whiskeys, Split Stave Rye and Eagle Thief Bourbon.
Split Stave Rye begins with the brand’s Batch #7 River Kelvin Rye, a 7 year Indiana rye whiskey with a mash bill of 95% rye and 5% malted barley that Four Gate finishes in a custom barrel that alternates toasted and charred staves. Just 2,439 bottles are available, bottled at cask strength 112.5 proof.
Have Four Gate Split Stave Rye shipped to your door here for $184.99.
“The main focus was to add complexity of flavor and additional sweetness from the wood sugars. We were already very happy with the quality of the base product,” Said Kelvin Cooperage Director of Operations William Hornaday, “By focusing on more toasted oak we were getting all those amazing caramelized wood sugars to add sweetness and depth of flavor to an already beautiful and spicy rye. In concept, the two complimented each other perfectly.”
In addition to Split Stave Rye, the brand has launched Four Gate Batch #11 Eagle Thief, a touching ode to the late Kevin McLaughlin of Kelvin Cooperage. Four Gate has partnered with Kelvin Cooperage for several of their finished bourbons, and Four Gate Chief Barrel Officer Bob D’Antoni had a close friendship with McLaughlin. After McLaughlin’s passing at the end of 2019, Four Gate decided to honor him with the brand’s first tribute bottling, this special 12 year bourbon.
Just four barrels of 12-year bourbon with a mash bill of 74% corn, 18% rye, and 8% malted barley were blended for this release, yielding only 423 bottles at 122.7 proof.
“Kevin was such a great guy and great friend. He was so instrumental in our success that I felt like this was something we had to do,” said D’Antoni.
“Kevin was an avid and skilled golfer, who played collegiate golf at Pepperdine University, where he captained the golf team. As such, much of the labeling of the batch are tributes to Kevin’s golf game and the cooperage he ran so successfully,” the brand tells us.
“Everyone at Kelvin Cooperage is overwhelmed by Four Gate’s Eagle Thief Release in honor of my brother, Kevin McLaughlin,” said Paul McLaughlin. “He would also have enjoyed having his +2 handicap widely publicized! The fact that everyone involved in the project is donating profits to Kevin’s favorite cause – The West End School – is a lovely bonus.”
In addition to the handicap, the label highlights McLaughlins’ collegiate school colors, the proof memorializes the day of his passing (December 27th), and watermarks read “KM” and “RIP.”
“The label was such a labor of love from Bobby (D’Antoni),” said Chief Blending Officer Bill Straub. “It’s really thoughtful and creative at the same time.”
Eagle Thief is available now at a suggested retail price of $299.99, which includes a generous donation to The West End School in Louisville. In a press release, Four Gate extended its thanks to the retailers and merchants that helped to make this possible. “To maximize the contribution to the school, Republic National Distributing Company, Sterling Cut Glass, Resource Label, and White Dog Trading and Storage all agreed to participate at lower margins to make this batch a reality, including all participating on-premise retailers and online sellers like BourbonOutfitter.com,” says the brand.
