A little background
Four Gate Batch 2 “Outer Loop Orbit” is a straight bourbon whiskey finished in orange curaçao-gin casks from Kelvin Cooperage. The whiskey is sourced from an undisclosed Kentucky distillery and is a blend of 5.5 year old and 12 year old bourbons. The mash bill for the 5.5 year old bourbon is 78% corn, 10% rye, and 12% malted barley while the mash bill for the 12 year old bourbon is 74% corn, 18% rye, and 8% malted barley. The whiskey is 120.3 proof, non-chill filtered, and has a price tag of around $200. Four Gate Batch 2 Outer Loop Orbit was only released in Kentucky and Tennessee with only 2402 bottles as part of the release.
(Tasted neat from a Glencairn Glass)
Color
Caramel
Nose
The nose is heavy with citrus notes of orange, lemon, and lime with a touch of oak lingering in the background. There is no doubt this is a finished whiskey as the gin really comes through.
Palate
The palate has a lot of similar citrus notes to the nose with the orange really standing out. You can tell this is 120.3 proof as some heat and cinnamon spice begin to develop.
Finish
The finish is medium length with the orange curaçao and gin notes really shining through. The cinnamon is present, and a touch of sweetness in the form of vanilla is there.
In closing
Four Gate Batch 2 Outer Loop Orbit is a very unique bbourbon that will really appeal to gin drinkers that also like high-proof spirits. With a $200 price tag though, this is definitely a whiskey that I would highly recommend trying before buying as it is so unique. Overall, this was a pleasant change of pace for my palate.
NOTE: The sample used for this review was provided at no cost courtesy of Four Gate. We thank them for the sample and for allowing us to review it with no strings attached.