Four Gate Batch 28 The Kelvin Collaboration V Bourbon 750ML

Four Gate Batch 28 The Kelvin Collaboration V Bourbon 750ML is a limited-release, barrel-proof Kentucky straight bourbon blend bottled at 117 proof (58.5% ABV) in a 750ml bottle. This fifth installment in the Kelvin Collaboration series marries three distinct aged bourbons and finishes them using the proprietary Split Stave® barrel method—a technique exclusive to Four Gate—with only 4,802 bottles produced.
Quick Facts: ABV: 58.5% (117 proof)  |  Origin: Kentucky, USA  |  Blend of 7, 8, and 9-Year Bourbons  |  Finished in Split Stave® Barrels  |  Brand: Four Gate Whiskey Company
Production & Heritage
Four Gate Whiskey Company, a Kentucky-based independent bottler, has built its reputation on inventive barrel finishing and small-batch releases. For Batch 28, three Kentucky straight bourbons form the base: a 7-year and an 8-year sharing a mashbill of 74% corn, 20% rye, and 5% malted barley, alongside a 9-year bourbon with a higher-malt recipe of 78% corn, 10% rye, and 12% malted barley. This blend was then finished in Split Stave® barrels crafted exclusively for Four Gate by Kelvin Cooperage—a curated construction of staves from Australian Mariposa Sherry casks and Añejo dark rum casks, each individually toasted and charred, then assembled into a single finishing barrel. The result layers multiple wood influences simultaneously rather than sequentially, producing a complexity that standard single-cask finishing cannot replicate.
Tasting Notes
Aroma: Pecan pie and barrel char open the nose, followed by waves of raisins, fig cookies, and dried dark cherries. Deeper investigation reveals honeyed toffee, subtle dried orange peel, and oak spice—clear signatures of the Sherry and rum cask influence.
Taste: The entry is viscous and mouth-coating, delivering sweet caramel and dark chocolate immediately. The mid-palate unfolds with waffles drenched in maple syrup, molasses, and roasted nuts, while milk chocolate and spicy citric cola notes add dimension. Despite the 117-proof heat, the blend achieves a surprising equilibrium, with caramel apple and sweet plum flavors rounding out the peak.
Finish: Exceptionally long and lingering. Sweet dried fruits and deep molasses carry well past the final sip, with subtle oak char and dark rum sweetness persisting in the background.
How to Drink Kelvin Collaboration V
At 117 proof, this bourbon rewards a slow pour neat in a Glencairn glass; a few drops of water unlock the layered fruit and chocolate notes without diminishing intensity. Its barrel-proof character also holds up remarkably well in spirit-forward cocktails. An Old Fashioned amplifies the caramel and dark fruit core with a demerara sugar cube. A Boulevardier plays the rum-cask sweetness against Campari’s bitter edge for a rich, complex sipper. A Manhattan with sweet vermouth extends the dried cherry and fig notes already present in the spirit.
Best For
Gifting a serious bourbon collector who values limited, independently bottled releases
Side-by-side tastings comparing cask-finishing techniques across the Kelvin Collaboration series
Anchoring a barrel-proof bourbon flight at a tasting event
Celebrating a milestone with a bottle that won’t be reproduced once the 4,802-bottle run is gone
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Kelvin Collaboration V taste like? It delivers a rich, layered profile dominated by dark chocolate, caramel, molasses, and dried fruits like plum and raisin, with secondary notes of maple, pecan, and citric spice. Despite its 117-proof strength, the heat is well-integrated and balanced by the sweetness imparted from the Sherry and rum cask finishing.
How does Kelvin Collaboration V compare to earlier Kelvin Collaboration batches? Each Kelvin Collaboration release uses different base bourbon ages and cask combinations within the Split Stave® framework, so no two batches are identical. Batch 28 distinguishes itself with the specific pairing of Australian Mariposa Sherry and Añejo dark rum staves, which pushes the profile toward darker dried fruits and deeper molasses sweetness than some prior installments.
Is Kelvin Collaboration V good for sipping neat? Yes—barrel-proof enthusiasts will find it remarkably balanced at 117 proof, with enough sweetness and viscosity to temper the alcohol. A few drops of water further open the fruit and chocolate layers for those who prefer a slightly gentler experience.
Where is Kelvin Collaboration V made? The base bourbons are distilled and aged in Kentucky, and the finishing barrels are custom-built by Kelvin Cooperage using their proprietary Split Stave® construction. Four Gate Whiskey Company, based in Kentucky, selects, blends, and bottles the final product.
What foods pair well with Kelvin Collaboration V? Dark chocolate truffles complement the existing cocoa and molasses notes. Pecan pie mirrors the nutty, caramelized aromas on the nose. Blue cheese provides a savory counterpoint to the bourbon’s dried-fruit sweetness. Smoked brisket stands up to the high proof and oak char. Bread pudding with rum sauce echoes the Añejo rum cask influence directly.
What sizes does Kelvin Collaboration V come in? Batch 28 is available in the standard 750ml bottle size.
Is Kelvin Collaboration V worth the price? Kelvin Collaboration V positions firmly in the premium-to-ultra-premium tier for American whiskey, justified by its limited 4,802-bottle production, multi-barrel blending of aged stocks, and the proprietary Split Stave® finishing process. For collectors and enthusiasts who value unique cask-finishing innovation and scarcity, it represents strong value relative to other limited-edition craft bourbons.
Why Kelvin Collaboration V?
The Split Stave® barrel—built from individually selected, toasted, and charred Sherry and rum cask staves assembled into a single vessel—is a finishing method no other bourbon producer uses, making every Kelvin Collaboration release structurally unique in the category. Batch 28 layers that distinctive technique over a thoughtfully assembled blend of three bourbon ages and two separate mashbills, creating a depth that single-barrel or single-finish expressions rarely achieve. With only 4,802 bottles produced and Four Gate’s track record of earning 90-plus scores from Whisky Advocate across its reviewed batches, this release carries both critical credibility and genuine scarcity. It stands as one of the more inventive barrel-finished bourbons available in a market increasingly crowded with straightforward cask finishes.