Four Gate Batch 25 7 Year Port Andalusia Key Rye 750ML

Four Gate Batch 25 7 Year Port Andalusia Key Rye 750ML is a limited-edition Indiana straight rye whiskey aged 7 years and bottled at 115.3 proof (57.65% ABV) in a 750ml bottle. What distinguishes this release is its secondary maturation in barrels that first held Spanish Oloroso Sherry in Andalusia and then aged dark rum in the Florida Keys — a layered finishing process that produced only 3,735 bottles.

Quick Facts: ABV: 57.65% (115.3 Proof)  |  Origin: Indiana, USA  |  Age: 7 Years  |  Mashbill: 95% Rye / 5% Malted Barley  |  Brand: Four Gate Whiskey Company

Production & Heritage

Four Gate Whiskey Company, based in Louisville, Kentucky, operates as a non-distiller producer (NDP) specializing in small-batch, cask-finished whiskeys. Batch 25, dubbed "Port Andalusia Key," begins as a high-rye Indiana straight rye whiskey distilled from a 95% rye and 5% malted barley mashbill — the same workhorse grain bill responsible for many acclaimed American rye whiskeys. After seven years of initial aging, the whiskey was transferred into Spanish Oloroso Sherry–Dark Rum casks sourced through Kelvin Cooperage in Louisville. These barrels traveled a remarkable path: they first matured Oloroso Sherry in the Andalusia region of Spain, then crossed the Atlantic to age dark rum in the Florida Keys before arriving in Kentucky to finish this rye. The result is a whiskey shaped by three distinct spirits traditions in a single barrel.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Spicy black pepper leads, followed by citrus peel, dark molasses, and roasted cashews. A faint red fruit sweetness lingers beneath, with deeper exploration revealing syrupy sherried fruits and rum raisin cake.

Taste: The entry delivers bright candied citrus and immediate rye spice — black pepper and baking spices hit the mid-palate with authority. As it develops, raisins and maple syrup emerge, lending a dessert-like richness that tempers the rye's natural intensity. At barrel proof, the mouthfeel is viscous and full without becoming hot.

Finish: Medium in length, the finish carries black pepper, maple syrup, dark molasses, and a distinct dark rum character. Light citrus returns at the very end, balancing the sweetness and leaving a warm, lingering spice.

How to Drink Port Andalusia Key Rye

At 115.3 proof, this rye rewards patient sipping — start neat, then add a few drops of water to unlock the layered sherry and rum barrel influence. The high proof and complex barrel finishing also make it a formidable cocktail base. A Manhattan benefits from the rye's natural spice and the sherry-rum sweetness, replacing the need for vermouth theatrics. A Vieux Carré pairs well here, where the rum barrel notes complement the cocktail's Cognac and Bénédictine elements. A simple Rye Old Fashioned lets the barrel-finished complexity shine with minimal dilution.

Best For

• Rye whiskey collectors seeking barrel-finished limited releases
• Gifting to a whiskey enthusiast who values unique cask programs
• Side-by-side tasting nights comparing NDP finishing techniques
• Adding a standout bottle to a home bar's top shelf

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Port Andalusia Key Rye taste like? It delivers candied citrus, black pepper, baking spices, and raisins on the palate, with a rum-raisin and maple syrup sweetness from its dual-origin barrel finishing. The finish carries molasses, dark rum, and lingering rye spice.

How does Port Andalusia Key compare to Barrell Seagrass? Both are NDP-sourced rye whiskeys finished in multiple cask types, but Port Andalusia Key uses a specific Oloroso Sherry-to-dark rum barrel journey rather than Barrell Seagrass's combination of rum, Madeira, and apricot brandy barrels. Four Gate's release is also more limited in production at 3,735 bottles and sits at a higher price tier.

Is Port Andalusia Key good for sipping neat? Yes — while 115.3 proof is robust, the barrel finishing adds enough sweetness and depth to make it approachable neat, though a splash of water helps open the sherry and rum notes further.

Where is Port Andalusia Key made? The base rye whiskey is distilled in Indiana using a 95% rye and 5% malted barley mashbill, then finished and bottled by Four Gate Whiskey Company in Louisville, Kentucky, using casks sourced through Kelvin Cooperage.

What foods pair well with Port Andalusia Key? Dark chocolate truffles complement the molasses and rum barrel character. Aged Manchego cheese echoes the Spanish sherry cask influence. Grilled lamb chops stand up to the rye spice. Pecan pie mirrors the maple and baking spice notes. Charcuterie with dried figs bridges the fruit and pepper elements.

What sizes does Port Andalusia Key come in? Four Gate Batch 25 Port Andalusia Key Rye is available in a standard 750ml bottle.

Is Port Andalusia Key worth the price? It positions as a premium limited-release expression, with its value rooted in a 7-year age statement, barrel-proof bottling, unique dual-origin cask finishing, and a production run of just 3,735 bottles — placing it above standard shelf ryes and in line with other small-batch, cask-finished collectible releases.

Why Port Andalusia Key?

The defining feature of Batch 25 is a barrel with genuine provenance — casks that physically moved from Andalusia to the Florida Keys before reaching Kentucky, accumulating flavor at each stop. That three-continent barrel journey is not a marketing concept; it is a verifiable production chain through Kelvin Cooperage that directly shapes the whiskey's sherry-dried fruit and dark rum characteristics. With only 3,735 bottles produced at barrel proof, this release represents one of Four Gate's more distinctive experiments in a catalog built entirely around creative cask finishing. For drinkers who seek rye whiskey pushed beyond its traditional flavor boundaries, Batch 25 makes a compelling case.