All four major grains
Four Grain combines the four major grains of American whiskey: corn, wheat, rye and malted barley. Each contributes to the balance: familiar bourbon sweetness, a softer wheat character and a rye-spice finish.
Corn carries the familiar sweetness of bourbon. Wheat brings a silky mouthfeel and a gentle sweetness of its own. Rye adds the spice and the finishing kick. Malted barley rounds the whole thing out and gives the grain character a little more depth.
Why 100 proof
Four Grain is bottled at 100 proof to stand up in cocktails. The combination of wheat sweetness and rye spice gives it a clear presence alongside sugar, bitters and ice, while remaining approachable as a neat pour.
Enjoy it neat to explore that sweetness and spice. The supplied Whisky Advocate review describes a silky mouthfeel and notes that water helps bring the flavors together.
What the critics found
Whisky Advocate scored Four Grain 88 points. Their tasting found berries, oatmeal and vanilla on the nose with an earthy, woodsy edge; grain, drying oak, orange, cinnamon and chocolate on the palate; and citrus, cinnamon and espresso on the finish, with water bringing the flavors together and a silky mouthfeel forward.