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Old Fourth Distillery was launched by five friends (two of whom are also brothers) in 2013 with the aid of a Kickstarter campaign. Atlanta’s first legal distillery since 1906, Old Fourth Distillery started distilling in November 2014. The distillery and its inventory were acquired by Shortbarrel in 2023, an independent bottler also based in Atlanta that was, incidentally, also founded by three friends in 2021.

Nique’s Batch “The Rookie” was created by Dominique Wilkins “Nique,” former NBA player and nine-time All-Star, and Old Fourth Distillery Master Blender Clinton Dugan. Wilkins spent most of his career playing for the Atlanta Hawks. The collaboration was focused on highlighting Atlanta, home to both Wilkins and Old Fourth Distillery. According to Dugan, “We were rebuilding a piece of the city’s distilling history. [There is] no one who embodies that better than Dominique Wilkins…he’s Atlanta’s guy.”‍

According to Wilkins, his bourbon journey “actually started with cigars.” He states, “I always liked winding down with a good cigar, and over time, I started pairing them with different whiskeys and bourbons. That’s when I really got into the depth and flavor of a good bourbon. It became something I genuinely enjoyed, not just the drink itself, but the experience around it. That interest grew over the years and eventually led me launching my own bourbon, Nique’s Batch. It’s something I’m really proud of."‍

Dugan tasted through a number of barrels aging at Old Fourth Distillery, including combinations of Kentucky and MGP bourbon, Kentucky only, and MGP only, and even played with a few finish ideas. “What started as a simple charity barrel pick with Dominique turned into something way bigger. From the beginning, he didn’t want this to be a vanity release. He wanted to be involved. We sat down together, tasted through barrels, and spent nearly 3 months refining the final blend,” according to Dugan.

Nique's Batch "The Rookie" is a 10 barrel blend, with each barrel distilled by MGP’s Ross & Squibb Distillery for Old Fourth Distillery in early 2017, aged entirely in Atlanta, and ranging in proof from around 118-121. Three different basketball card neck tags were created for the release, with each mimicking a 1986 Fleer rookie basketball card. Each bottle will include a card neck tag, and some bottles will include one autographed by Wilkins as a random bonus. ‍

‍This is the first of what may be many batches like it, with the next already in the works. According to Dugan, “This isn’t a one-and-done. We’ve got more in the works with Dominique. The next batch is already in motion - and let’s just say, it’s inspired by his legendary dunking ability. We’re also rolling out a special series of store-only single barrels called the ‘Hall of Fame,’ letting select retailers draft their own all-star picks. Dominique and I will be selecting those barrels together and he will be signing the barrels for stores to have in store! The goal is to have those to stores before the NBA season kicks off next year.”‍

Nique’s Batch “The Rookie” consists of 1,982 bottles, signifying the start of Wilkin’s basketball career in 1982. It will be released in Atlanta first, followed by an online/national rollout.

Spice is evident upfront, with raspberry and caramel rounding it out. A deeper inhale further reveals a more defined cinnamon-allspice mix, along with a touch of brown sugar. Light floral undertones emerge on the backend. The aroma is enjoyable and inviting, leaning slightly more towards its spicy side than its sweeter side.

A slurry of cinnamon and brown sugar washes over caramel and toasted oak. Hints of graham cracker and tobacco leaf add depth, along with a fleeting pop of allspice that transitions to cinnamon on the backend. It’s a dynamic but grounded midpoint that revels in balance and drinkability with ample depth of flavor.

Cinnamon spice gives way to brown sugar and graham cracker. A touch of almond follows, along with a hint of Red Hots candy spice. The bourbon’s spicy side amplifies as the finish persists, but the sweeter side manages to keep pace. The result is a nice balance between spicy and sweet that leaves a lasting impression.

Every bottle’s first impression begins with its packaging, and Nique’s Batch doesn’t spare any detail. The label has the texture of a basketball jersey, callouts to both Old Fourth Distillery and Dominique Williams, and even the shape of the barcode forms against the basketball-themed design. Details of each barrel used in the blend are found on the back of the basketball card neck tag, with barrel date, rickhouse location, and barrel proof/ABV of each barrel used in the blend.

Delving into the bourbon reveals a well-balanced 10 barrel blend. Proof is on point at 105, which remains potent enough for whiskey diehards but manageable enough for the masses. Yes, it is a blend of MGP bourbons, and yes, there are a lot of them out there bottled under many different labels. But if Penelope Bourbon didn’t prove it to you, or any number of other high-quality brands that were distilled at a large distillery and then aged, blended, and bottled by a different producer, the fact of the matter is that attention to detail matters.

Attention to detail permeates all the way through this release, and the final product is proof of that. Moreover, the barrels used for this blend were aged entirely in Atlanta, Georgia, which certainly had an impact on their maturation and ultimately the final blend. It’s a traditionally inspired bourbon, but also one that is well-balanced and memorable.

At $80 per bottle, Nique's Batch "The Rookie" delivers on stats - 8 year old blend of 10 barrels and a 105 proof point. This falls in line with bottles such as Penelope Estate Collection: Single Barrel (10 years old, $90) and Pinhook Bourbon War Vertical Series (8 years old, $93), two highly curated MGP-distilled bourbons.

In today’s marketplace, value isn’t just driven by stats; the bourbon also has to speak to the consumer in some way. Nique's Batch "The Rookie" was designed to resonate with the city of Atlanta first and foremost. But it also resonates with bourbon enthusiasts and even simply basketball fans in general, as any basketball fan is certainly familiar with Wilkins’ impact on the sport. The blend itself is well-executed and speaks to consumers of all experience levels. With only 1,982 bottles released, it’s a bottle that will experience greater demand than what’s available. Because of Wilkins involvement and the heavy focus on collectability, it will be a must-have for some consumers.

In the case of celebrity whiskeys, it’s easy to write them off as just another product in the celebrity’s portfolio, but it’s fascinating when it’s something more than that. Wilkins was involved with this release from start to finish, and the collaboration with Old Fourth Distillery seems to be working well based on the execution of this release and plans for more in the future.

The bourbon combines 10 barrels that were distilled at MGP’s Ross & Squibb Distillery in Indiana, but they were aged entirely in Atlanta, which means they were subjected to the area’s hot, muggy summers and cold, wet winters. The fact that it’s traditionally-inspired and doesn’t taste off-the-charts unusual works well for this release. The flavor profile is different enough to not be readily identifiable as MGP distillate, but remains centered on overall drinkability, delivering on a well-balanced mix of spicy and sweet flavors bourbon drinkers will be familiar with. It’s also proofed exactly right, finding middle ground between all ranges of consumers. Overall, this is a nicely executed whiskey all-around that conveys the level of effort and thoughtfulness Old Fourth Distillery and Dominique Wilkins put into it.