PROOF: 125.8 proof

SOURCE: Kentucky Straight Bourbon

Tasting Notes: Hot honey and buttery blackberry cobbler lead on the nose, moving into spiced pear, tart cherry, and warming baked caramelized apple, toffee, and vanilla custard.

Like the nose, the palate opens with spiced vanilla custard and concentrated cherry and blackberry fruit, juicy and prickly, with creamy cacao, mint, and toffee filling the middle before spiced leather and barrel char set in.

Creamy chocolate-covered cherry and mature oak transition into black pepper and allspice before a long linger of butterscotch and barrel char.

ABOUT THE BOTTLE: Fathertime is a Kentucky bourbon from comedian Jim Gaffigan. Fourth & Long is the next expression in the series, sold as a 750ml bottle and hand-signed by Jim himself.

Jim fell in love with bourbon after he and his wife Jeannie learned an occasional drink provided a momentary break from parenting teenagers. If you have children, you understand. Parenting is hard. Raising three kids is exponentially harder. Would adding another rookie to the roster make things easier? No. But much like going for it on 4th down, when you make it, there is a feeling of invincibility. Not every team has the guts to go for it on fourth and long. But when you do and you make it, that's a joy that lasts a lifetime. Just like bourbon.

Jim has grown to appreciate stronger pours, which is why he decided to bottle some of Fourth & Long at cask strength (~120 proof), affectionately referring to this expression as “Empty Nester Strength.” When children finally leave the home, parents enter a unique stage in their journey. While empty nesters are often characterized as being victoriously liberated from parental responsibilities, they sometimes also experience a level of grief. The grip of love and fear that permeates parenting grows a little tighter. And some nights that calls for a stronger bourbon.

The same principles that inspired the previous editions of Fathertime have also guided the creation of this new release, Fourth & Long. This endeavor is still just Jim and Stu tasting barrels and putting together a smooth and delicious bourbon. This batch is just as precious as the first, and each bottle is personally signed by Jim, which was a pain in the ass but totally worth it – much like fatherhood.

To those who humbly accept the paternal responsibility, we raise a glass to you. A father’s joy is earned.

Want more Fathertime? Try the regular strength version.