Four Kings - Collaboration for Binny's Liquor Store in Illinois

Beers, wines and now whiskeys oh my… Collaborations are nothing new to the Adult Beverage scene but it is nice to see that four distilleries can play not in the sand box.  Especially when it comes to combining their special ingredients together to create a concoction of no other.  The four distilleries are Corsair, FEW Spirits, Journeyman Distillery and Mississippi River Distilling Company.  The label on this bottle states that it is a bourbon whiskey aged less than 4 years.  Each distillery contributed 30 gallons of whiskey and they were blended together for 6 months.  Bottles are only found at Binny’s during whiskey week in Chicago.
I myself am very happy to have my hands on this great little treasure from two different years.  I have 2014 and 2016 in my whiskey collection.  Yes the 2014 bottle is close to being finished since I chose to share it with some of my closest friends.  I just spoke to a representative on Binny’s whiskey hotline and was told they still have 2015 and 2016 available for purchase and 2017 will be available soon.  They recently lost their ability to ship outside of Illinois but are hoping to get that ability back soon.  Road trip anyone?
Four Kings 2014
Nose: sweet scents of caramel and tall grass that is blowing in the wind.  Mild oak and maybe a hint of butterscotch, like the sugar free ones that my grandmother has laying around her house when I was a kid.
Taste: Surprisingly smooth for the first sip.  Butterscotch lingering on the back of the tongue.  Round two for sips brings in the charred oak but mellows towards the end just like butter with that sweet taste.  So smooth it’s unbelievable.
Four Kings 2016
Darker in color and higher ALC/VOL than the 2014.  This is the distillery’s 3rd collaboration of working together.  Released during Whiskey Week in Chicago in March 2016.
Nose:  The sweetness continues on this edition with a hint of what smells like a chili pepper.  Not necessarily spicy but a well-rounded Anaheim pepper.  The charred oak is stronger on this nose than the 2014 but ends with a pecan or nutty scent.
Taste:  Fist sip is not as smooth as I thought it was going to be.  This whiskey is very hearty in flavor, very earthy.  Bites you in the beginning with forward pepper and grassy notes and attempts to smooth out in the end with a warming sensation.  As the sips continue the taste buds start to adjust but you definitely get the distinct flavors.  My father once told me that whiskey will put hair on your chest.  Well a myth that it may be, this whiskey is definitely pronounced enough to make you wonder if it possible.  Definitely a good whiskey that my dad would enjoy.  Cheers!