LAWRENCEBURG, Ky., Oct. 29, 2026 — Four Roses Distillery is exploring chestnut wood finishing with its latest Experimental Series bourbon, a limited release arriving at its Kentucky visitor centers Nov. 20.
Experimental Series No. 003: Chestnut pairs the distillery’s six-year-old OBSK bourbon recipe with a finishing period in chestnut barrels made from wood grown in Japan. Bottled at 104 proof, or 52% alcohol by volume, the release carries a suggested retail price of $55 for a 375-milliliter bottle.
The whiskey will be available while supplies last at Four Roses’ visitor centers in Lawrenceburg and Cox’s Creek.
Following earlier Experimental Series releases involving Mizunara and honey-seasoned casks, the third installment continues the distillery’s examination of how different finishing treatments interact with its 10 bourbon recipes.
Development began with trials evaluating several wood species. Chestnut distinguished itself by contributing flavors that encouraged the team to expand its testing and identify a bourbon recipe suited to the finish.
Four Roses ultimately selected OBSK for its spice and complexity, pairing those characteristics with the sweeter, rounded flavors developed during maturation in 250-liter chestnut barrels.
“To me, what makes this release so interesting is how chestnut wood can enhance and highlight the flavors of a bourbon,” said Four Roses master distiller Brent Elliott.
Elliott said the OBSK recipe provided the foundation needed to complement the wood’s influence, preserving a recognizable Four Roses character while introducing different flavors.
The finishing process involved chestnut barrels prepared with a range of toast and char levels. Rather than emptying every barrel on a fixed schedule, the distillery sampled each frequently and ended its finishing period when the whiskey reached the desired flavor profile.
Finishing times ranged from five to 11 weeks. That individual approach allowed the team to account for differences among barrels while balancing the chestnut influence with the underlying bourbon.
According to Four Roses’ tasting notes, Experimental Series No. 003 opens with aromas of apricot and soft vanilla. The palate is rounded and creamy, featuring vanilla bean, pear and ripe cherry alongside sweet toasted wood and hints of baking spice.
The distillery describes the finish as rich and lingering, with delicate fruit and brown sugar notes.
The November release places Chestnut at the visitor centers ahead of Thanksgiving and the holiday gift-giving season. Four Roses recommends enjoying it neat, with its fruit, spice and sweet wood profile positioned as an after-dinner pour.
