Four Gate Majestic Wood Series Brazilian Amburana Oak 750ML

Four Gate Majestic Wood Series Brazilian Amburana Oak 750ML is a cask-strength Kentucky straight bourbon (57.55% ABV / 115.1 proof) finished in Brazilian Amburana Oak barrels. Awarded a 92-point score from Whisky Advocate, this limited release channels the aromatic intensity of a wood traditionally reserved for aging cachaça into a bold, spice-driven American whiskey.

Quick Facts: ABV: 57.55% (115.1 Proof)  |  Origin: Kentucky, USA  |  7-Year Age Statement  |  Distillery: Undisclosed Kentucky Distillery  |  Mashbill: 75% Corn, 20% Rye, 5% Malted Barley

Production & Heritage

Four Gate Whiskey Company is an independent bottler based in Kentucky that sources and finishes bourbon and rye under its own label, with a focus on exotic wood finishes and small-batch releases. The Majestic Wood Series explores non-traditional finishing casks, and this expression takes a 7-year Kentucky straight bourbon — built on a classic high-corn, rye-forward mashbill of 75% corn, 20% rye, and 5% malted barley — and finishes it in casks made from Brazilian Amburana wood. Amburana oak (Amburana cearensis) has been used for centuries in Brazil to age cachaça, and it imparts dramatically different characteristics than American white oak: intense vanilla, warm baking spices like clove and cinnamon, coconut, and sweet ginger notes that layer onto the base bourbon's existing profile.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: A pungent, inviting nose opens with cracked black pepper and orange peel before settling into vanilla frosting and a subdued licorice undercurrent. The Amburana influence emerges as baking spice and coconut build with time in the glass.

Taste: Gingerbread arrives immediately on the front palate and carries through the entire experience. The mid-palate unfolds with candied ginger, bright lemon, and snickerdoodle cookies, all layered over grassy sweetness and pungent white pepper. At full proof, the texture is rich and oily, with buttercream and cinnamon holding the center.

Finish: Long and evolving — the sweeter flavors of vanilla and baking spice gradually quiet as the whiskey draws to a close, fading into toasted oak. The final impression is dry and warming, with lingering pepper and a whisper of tropical fruit.

How to Drink Brazilian Amburana Oak

At 115.1 proof, this bourbon rewards a patient neat pour — let it breathe for five to ten minutes to allow the Amburana spice notes to open up, and consider a few drops of water to unlock the coconut and buttercream layers beneath the pepper. For cocktail applications, its high proof and intense spice profile make it a compelling choice in three specific drinks: an Old Fashioned, where the gingerbread and cinnamon notes replace simple syrup sweetness with natural complexity; a Bourbon Sour, where the bright lemon and tropical fruit characteristics harmonize with citrus; and a Boulevardier, where the Amburana spice stands up to Campari's bitterness without being overshadowed.

Best For

• Bourbon collectors seeking limited-edition exotic wood finishes
• Gifting an adventurous whiskey enthusiast who appreciates unusual cask expressions
• Side-by-side tastings comparing finishing wood influences (Amburana vs. Mizunara vs. American oak)
• After-dinner sipping as a dessert-course replacement on cool evenings

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Brazilian Amburana Oak taste like? The dominant flavor is gingerbread, supported by candied ginger, cinnamon, vanilla frosting, and snickerdoodle cookies, with pungent cracked pepper and a long toasted-oak finish. It drinks like a deeply spiced, dessert-leaning bourbon with enough proof to keep everything structured.

How does Brazilian Amburana Oak compare to Four Gate Majestic Wood Japanese Mizunara Oak? Both are part of the same Majestic Wood Series and share the goal of exploring non-traditional finishing woods, but the Amburana expression leans heavily into warm baking spices, coconut, and tropical sweetness, while Mizunara oak typically imparts sandalwood, incense, and delicate floral notes. The two bottles were designed as companion releases, making them ideal for a direct side-by-side comparison.

Is Brazilian Amburana Oak good for sipping neat? Yes — despite its cask-strength 115.1 proof, the bourbon's rich sweetness and oily texture make it highly approachable neat, especially after a few minutes of rest in the glass. A small addition of water further softens the pepper and amplifies the dessert-spice character.

Where is Brazilian Amburana Oak made? The base bourbon was distilled at an undisclosed distillery in Kentucky using a mashbill of 75% corn, 20% rye, and 5% malted barley, then aged for seven years before being finished in Brazilian Amburana Oak casks and bottled by Four Gate Whiskey Company.

What foods pair well with Brazilian Amburana Oak? Gingerbread cookies or ginger cake echo the bourbon's dominant flavor note directly. Dark chocolate truffles complement the vanilla and cinnamon warmth. Smoked pork belly or pulled pork benefits from the pepper and oak backbone. Crème brûlée pairs naturally with the buttercream and vanilla character. Aged Gouda or Manchego cheese matches the sweet-spicy intensity without competing.

What sizes does Brazilian Amburana Oak come in? This expression is available in the standard 750ml bottle size.

Is Brazilian Amburana Oak worth the price? Four Gate positions its releases in the premium-to-ultra-premium tier, reflecting limited production volumes, a seven-year age statement, and the rarity of Amburana finishing casks in American whiskey. The 92-point score from Whisky Advocate reinforces its standing as a critically recognized expression that delivers distinctive character not easily found elsewhere in the bourbon category.

Why Brazilian Amburana Oak?

Brazilian Amburana wood remains one of the rarest finishing materials used in American whiskey, and Four Gate's decision to apply it to a seven-year, cask-strength bourbon produces a flavor profile with almost no direct peer on the market. The 92-point score from Whisky Advocate confirms that the exotic finish translates into genuine quality rather than novelty. Where many finished bourbons allow the secondary cask to overwhelm the base spirit, the Amburana here integrates seamlessly — gingerbread, cinnamon, and coconut feel like natural extensions of the high-rye mashbill's existing spice rather than foreign additions. For drinkers who have explored standard bourbon finishes and want to push into genuinely unfamiliar territory, this is one of the most distinctive American whiskeys available.