Oaklore Four Grain Bourbon Whiskey Review (2025)

 

One of the things that fascinates me is a brand’s lore. With world whiskies, you usually get the truth. With their American counterparts, it is a crapshoot. They’re either legitimate, partially true, or utter hogwash. For example, anytime the About Us section of the distillery’s website says anything remotely like, “My grandpappy’s grandpappy made illicit whiskey during Prohibition, he got caught, went to prison, died, and we thought his magic recipe went with him to Heaven above. Then, when exploring an antique store, we found his Hoosier cabinet and hidden behind it was an undiscovered handwritten copy of how to make his whiskey…” that’s guaranteed to be a tall tale.

 

I’ll never forget the one where the distillery’s founder suggested that his porpadoodle (a porpoise/canine hybrid) spoke to him during an underwater adventure. It was challenging to determine if this was mere creativity or recollection after indulging in too many mind-altering substances.

 

Then there are the backstories that make your heart smile, and you know (or at least hope) they’re true.

 

In 2016, neighbors Tom Bogan and Matt Simpkins walked their kids to catch the bus to elementary school. For whatever reason, the subject of whiskey came up. Both were enthusiasts and became friends over their shared bond.

 

Tom was in construction. Matt was a church pastor. Both wanted to expand their whiskey adventures beyond sitting in chairs sipping drinks. Tom had some experience home-brewing beer. The idea struck them that they could open a distillery. Tom suggested that distilling whiskey was just one step beyond beermaking.

 

Tom and Matt began by purchasing moonshine from their local package stores. They tried infusion, using staves inside jars and barrel aging to see what would happen and which produced the best results. They sought out pros (licensed distillers) to learn what they could. Then, Matt and Tom felt ready to hang their shingle.

 

Oaklore Distilling Co. was born. The new “distillery” was a 250-square-foot space in Matthews, North Carolina. There was a glass wall that allowed tasting room guests next door to watch them work. However, there was still a significant hurdle: they didn’t yet have their distilling license!

 

That brought them to seek out “sister” distilleries (what most folks would call contract distillers) so they’d have aged products available when their license was approved. Then, COVID-19 hit. The good news is their whiskey aged. But they were already looking to expand to a larger space.   

 

It took patience, prayer, and lobbying, primarily due to North Carolina’s restrictive laws, which didn’t allow distilling until 2005. Tom and Matt’s “green light” was lit in 2021, and they could finally unleash their passion.

 

“At Oaklore, our passion extends beyond the spirits themselves. We celebrate the stories uncorked with every bottle. This philosophy became the heart of our business, even inspiring the distillery’s name. Oak staves, referring to the barrels essential to the aging process, all have a story to tell. Each tree, each stave, and thus each barrel, carries its own unique history. We believe the same is true for people. When you gather around a glass and share stories, the collective narrative becomes richer than any individual story.” – Oaklore Distilling Co.

 

Oaklore Distilling Co. makes whiskey, vodka, gin, and rum. Today, I’ll explore its Four Grain Bourbon Whiskey. It was distilled from sister stills in North Carolina and Kentucky and can be purchased from the distillery’s online store.

 

The whiskey is aged entirely in North Carolina. Its Piedmont region is a friendly climate for aging whiskey. It is a humid, sub-tropical one with large temperature swings.

 

Was Tom’s and Matt’s dedication worth the wait? I’ll answer that by doing the #DrinkCurious thing. However, I must first thank Oaklore Distilling Co. for providing me with a sample in exchange for my no-strings-attached, honest review.

 

• Whiskey Type: Bourbon
• Age: NAS (5 to 6 years)
• Mashbill: 72% corn, 11% wheat, 10% rye, 7% malted barley
• Cooperage: Undisclosed. Matured once, blended, re-barreled at least 6 months in the original barrels, then blended again.
• Alcohol Content: 46% ABV (92°)
• Price per 750mL: $69.99
• Non-Chill Filtered

 

Appearance: I poured this Bourbon into my Glencairn glass to sip neat. The golden amber liquid formed a thicker rim that shed fast, thick, medium-spaced tears.

 

Nose: I let the Bourbon breathe for about ten minutes before approaching it. While I was waiting, the air in my Whiskey Library seemed fruity. When I was ready to explore, I encountered pecan pralines, orange zest, toasted oak, brown sugar, and cherries. I must admit, I wondered why it smelled so differently in the glass. Drawing the vapor through my lips provided vanilla cream.

 

Palate: My first sip revealed a rich, buttery texture. Flavors of English toffee, pecans, and brown sugar hit hard on the front of my palate. The middle included newish leather, sweet pipe tobacco, and vanilla beans. I tasted charred oak, clove, and white pepper.

 

Finish: The spice notes carried through the entire finish, ramping slowly until hitting a crescendo. While that happened, leather, vanilla cream, and toffee competed for attention. As time passed, its dryness built as well. The duration ran 2:22, making it very long.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: Color me impressed. Between the mouthfeel, flavorful palate, and solid finish, Oaklore Four Grain Bourbon is a delightful pour that should attract serious whiskey fans. At 92°, it is mellow enough to appeal to the layman. At $69.99, it may be a bit pricy, but I believe if you purchased a Bottle, you’d end up pleased. Cheers!

 

 

My Simple, Easy-to-Understand Rating System

• Bottle = Buy It
• Bar = Try It
• Bust = Leave It

 

Whiskeyfellow encourages you to enjoy your whiskey as you see fit but begs you to do so responsibly.