Four Gate 'Split Stave by Kelvin' Rye Whiskey Batch 10

Four Gate 'Split Stave by Kelvin' Rye Whiskey Batch 10 is the tenth small-batch release from Louisville's independent bottler — and the second to use Kelvin Cooperage's Split Stave™ casks: a 7-year-old Indiana straight rye (95% rye, 5% malted barley) finished in hybrid barrels built from alternating medium-toasted and #2-char staves. Bottled at full cask strength, 112.5 proof (56.25% ABV), 750mL, only 2,439 bottles were produced. It pours decadent and complex: mint and toasted marshmallow on the nose, crème brûlée sweetness up front, black pepper and warm oak at the back. Available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.

• Proof / ABV: 112.5 proof (56.25% ABV) — full cask strength; 750mL bottle
• Base whiskey: 7-year Indiana straight rye; 95% rye / 5% malted barley mash bill
• Finish: Kelvin Cooperage Split Stave™ casks — alternating medium-toasted and #2 char staves
• Bottler: Four Gate Whiskey Company, Louisville, Kentucky (independent bottler); 2,439 bottles
• Profile: mint, toasted marshmallow, crème brûlée, candied citrus, black pepper, oak

Two Woods in One Barrel

Kelvin Cooperage built the Split Stave™ cask exclusively for Four Gate: take a series of medium-toasted casks and a series of #2 char casks, break them down, and reassemble them into one barrel with alternating toasted and charred staves. The idea is to get both wood treatments working at once — the marshmallow and crème-brûlée sweetness of toasted oak plus the smoky structure of char. Batch 10 is the rye return to that experiment (Batch 4 was the bourbon), and Chief Blending Officer Bill Straub's team tuned it with more toasted staves for extra caramelized wood sugars. Only 2,439 bottles at 112.5 proof. Shop more rye whiskey or browse everything from Four Gate Whiskey Company at Del Mesa.

Tasting Notes

Per the bottler and retailer consensus: the nose leads with fresh mint, toasted marshmallows, seasoned oak, and candied citrus; the entry is rich with crème brûlée sweetness coating the palate immediately; toasted marshmallow fills the mid-palate alongside warm oak; the rear palate pivots to black pepper, baking spices, and sturdy rye bite; the finish is medium, spicy notes and marshmallow mingling.

How to Enjoy

Neat first — at 112.5 proof it's a cask-strength experience worth meeting head-on. A few drops of water tame the heat and open the crème-brûlée sweetness. The proof and spice also hold up in a bold Manhattan.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Split Stave cask?
A Kelvin Cooperage innovation built exclusively for Four Gate: medium-toasted barrels and #2 char barrels are broken down and reassembled into one cask with alternating toasted and charred staves — two wood treatments in a single barrel.

What is the mash bill of Batch 10?
95% rye and 5% malted barley — a 7-year-old Indiana straight rye, finished in the Split Stave casks and bottled at full cask strength (112.5 proof).

How many bottles of Batch 10 were made?
2,439 bottles — a limited, allocated release from Four Gate Whiskey Company of Louisville, Kentucky.

Cask strength, two woods, one rye — order Four Gate Split Stave by Kelvin Batch 10 from Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.