Gambit No. 6 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Review

A little background

Gambit No. 6 is a 6-year-old Kentucky Straight Bourbon created by master distiller Chip Tate in partnership with Foley Family Wines & Spirits. Bottled at 92 proof and non-chill filtered, the bourbon is built on a mash bill of 78% corn, 10% rye, and 12% malted barley before undergoing an extensive multi-barrel finishing process. Gambit No. 6 incorporates six distinct cask finishes — Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Apple Brandy, Muscatel, Oloroso Sherry, and Tokaji — with finishing and blending work completed at Minden Mill Distillery.

The release follows Tate’s work on the Ampersand Collection and highlights his continued focus on experimental blending and barrel-finishing techniques. Portions of the bourbon were aged for varying lengths of time in wine, fortified wine, and fruit brandy barrels sourced in part from Ferrari-Carano Vineyards & Winery, creating a layered finishing structure designed to showcase different characteristics from each cask type. Gambit No. 6 carries a suggested retail price of $69.99 and is available in select U.S. markets and online where shipping is permitted through Gambit No. 6 Official Website.

(Tasted neat from a Glencairn Glass)

Color

Mahogany

Nose

Dark fruit, cherry, vanilla, brown sugar, baking spice (nutmeg and pepper), and honey.

Palate

Raspberry, baking chocolate, dried dark fruit, brown sugar, cherry, and spice.

Finish

Oak, pipe tobacco, cocoa, dried dark fruit, and a lingering tannic wine note.

In closing

Gambit No. 6 Kentucky Straight Bourbon is an ambitious finished bourbon that successfully balances layered wine-barrel complexity with a solid traditional bourbon foundation. The nose delivers rich dark fruit, cherry, vanilla, brown sugar, honey, and baking spice, while the palate leans fruit-forward with notes of raspberry, baking chocolate, dried dark fruit, cherry, and warming spice backed by a balanced dryness that keeps the whiskey from becoming overly sweet. On the finish, medium-length notes of oak, pipe tobacco, cocoa, dried fruit, and lingering wine tannins highlight the influence of the six distinct barrel finishes without completely overshadowing the underlying bourbon character.

For bourbon drinkers who enjoy wine-finished whiskey, experimental cask maturation, and complex fruit-driven profiles, Gambit No. 6 stands out as one of the more unique Kentucky Straight Bourbon releases from Chip Tate and Foley Family Wines & Spirits.

NOTE: The sample used for this review was provided at no cost courtesy of Foley Family Wines & Spirits. We thank them for the sample and for allowing us to review it with no strings attached.