Four Roses Experimental Series Honey Cask Finish Review
In-Depth Review
It’s been a wild year for Four Roses. From releasing their oldest bottling ever, to being sold to new ownership in April, and now releasing a new “Experimental Series” line, Four Roses is clearly a brand undergoing massive change. Their sale to E. & J. Gallo Winery earlier this year shook the Kentucky spirits world and brought the brand under US family ownership for the first time in 83 years. And while a big ownership change may cause alarm to some – it’s important to acknowledge that Gallo is keeping Master Distiller Brent Elliot in charge – a position he has held since 2015. That’s important for a brand that has created a devout following since he’s taken the helm. Sure, Four Roses was popular before, but Elliott has seemingly taken the intricate production techniques the brand has been known for and turned them into an almost gamified version of bourbon collecting. By championing the uniqueness of each yeast strain, and the technical differences between mashbills, Elliott has turned Four Roses into the nerdy drinker’s favorite whisky brand.
Coming out of the success of their 21-year-old Anthology release, Four Roses has clearly been looking to keep the hype train going. Now focusing on cask finishing, the new Experimental Series bottlings are a welcome surprise from a distillery that can sometimes feel like it’s simply been playing the hits. The first Experimental Finishing release focused on the use of Mizunara wood from Japan – and was available as a 375ml only at the distillery. This latest Experimental Series release takes another wild turn and jumps on the honey cask finish craze that’s been sweeping through American whisky. It features a blend of OESQ and OBSK recipes, aged 6 to 8 years and finished for up to nine months in casks that previously held honey before being bottled at 104 proof. It retains its 375ml format – a welcome change for collectors who are running out of space on their shelves – and will once again be available at the distillery for $55. I love to see such a reasonable price on this aggressively limited release – but is it worth hiking out to their Cox Creek or Lawrenceburg distillery sites to pick up a bottle? Let’s dive in and find out.
The distillery has graciously sent this bottle for review, but my opinions and thoughts remain my own and I have received no compensation.
Age: Combination of 6-8 year bourbon
ABV: 52%
Cask: New American oak then finished in casks that previously held honey
MSRP: $55
Distillery Name: Four Roses Distillery
Review Date: 10/3/26
Color: Dark Caramel
Nose: The nose opens with a strong wildflower honey note that makes the nose almost syrupy sweet. It’s a thick, herbal sweetness that is so strong you could almost mistake it for accidentally pouring honey straight into the glass. Cherry and oak try to pop through, but struggle to breakthrough the overriding honey influence.
Palate: Thankfully, the dominating honey note from the nose does not translate to the palate. Instead, there’s a much more balanced character here that includes milk chocolate, fresh wood, pineapple slices, and spun sugar. The honey is still absolutely present but becomes more of an underlying flavor than an overwhelming presence. The 104 proof does a great job of slicing through the sweetness and providing a needed spice to the overall experience. The mouthfeel is a dream – with a velvety, silky texture that feels like it could cure your next winter cold.
Finish: Medium length finish that brings in black pepper, sweet tea, and toasted coconut to go along with the remaining honey sweetness.
Final Thoughts: The second installment in Four Rose’s new Experimental Series is a strong addition into 2026’s honey cask craze but fails to break into the distillery’s greatest hits collection. The honey dominates everything on the nose before giving way to more of the classic Four Roses profile on the palate and finish; which is a shame because the bourbon underneath is clearly great. Perhaps a little less time in the honey barrel could have helped, but it remains an interesting departure from a brand that is just now letting its hair down. So, if you can get beyond a nose that can feel like you’ve just sniffed pure honeycomb, then this is worth seeking out. And despite its flaws, it’s still one of the best honey finishes out there and a true experiment for the brand. But I won’t be clamoring for this to become a permanent addition to the Four Roses lineup any time soon.
