I am a lifelong Gator fan and an avid bourbon enthusiast, so this was almost unfair.

A quality bourbon that celebrates the Florida Gators?

Yes, please.

That is how Florida Victorious got my attention. For those who do not live in the orange-and-blue corner of the college sports universe, Florida Victorious is the NIL organization connected to Gator athletics. In plain English, it helps create opportunities for Florida student-athletes in this new world where name, image and likeness matter almost as much as recruiting rankings, transfer portals and whether the bullpen has anyone left who can throw strikes.

Florida Victorious announced a couple of bourbons that immediately interested me: 4th Char and Death Roll.

Both names are wonderfully Gator-coded.

“4th Char” works as a football phrase, but it also works as a bourbon phrase. Char No. 4 is the heavy barrel char often nicknamed “alligator char” because the inside of the barrel cracks and scales in a way that resembles alligator skin. That is almost too perfect.

“Death Roll” needs even less explanation if you have ever watched an alligator clamp down and spin. It is violent, swampy and very much on brand. In bourbon form, it also suggests something with more bite.

Naturally, I was interested.

I am not usually one to order bourbon online, especially when it is something new. I like to hold the bottle in my hands before I buy it. Preferably, I would like a sip before committing. But lo and behold, a trip to Total Wine revealed both bottles sitting there in the wild, and Death Roll was marked at a steal of a price.

So I picked up a bottle.

Honestly, it was worth having just because it is a Gator bottle. It would be fun to take to a tailgate even if the bourbon inside were only decent.

Thankfully, it is much better than decent.

The oak-stave finishing gives Death Roll a light mahogany color, and the oak shows up on the nose right away. Not in a bad way, though. It is present without becoming lumberyard-ish. Savory baking spice comes through, followed by a little caramel and vanilla.

The palate opens with red fruit, then brown sugar, caramel and a touch of chocolate. The mouthfeel borders on oily, which helps carry the finish. Cinnamon and toffee linger long enough to remind you that this is not merely a novelty bottle with a licensed label slapped on the front.

Crunching those impressions into numbers gave Death Roll a score of 83.76, which puts it in the upper echelon of my shelf.

And that created a problem.

If Death Roll was that good, what about 4th Char?

So I went back to Total Wine, picked up two more bottles of Death Roll — one for me and one for Scott when I visit him later in the week — and added a bottle of 4th Char.

The question was obvious: would 4th Char be just as enjoyable, or would it taste like a watered-down version of Death Roll?

The color is predictably lighter, but it is still substantial. I would call it a solid copper.

At first glance, I suspected that 4th Char might simply be Death Roll proofed down from 108 to 96. Mind you, we are only talking about a relatively small amount of extra water in the bottle, but that is all it takes to change the entire experience.

And honestly, one immediate benefit is that the oak is diminished.

On Death Roll, the oak announces itself. On 4th Char, it becomes more toasted than charred, and the baking spices step forward. The same general notes are there, but the balance shifts. I actually like the nose on 4th Char better, even though Death Roll has more depth and power.

The palate surprised me, too.

The fruit steps back, while brown sugar and baking spice move forward. Oddly, the proof makes itself known a little more, even though 4th Char is 12 proof points lower than Death Roll. The extra water takes a toll on the mouthfeel, though it is still decent. The cinnamon fades a bit in favor of nutmeg, and the chocolate disappears, while a little anise shows up in its place.

Overall, 4th Char is still a very enjoyable bourbon.

My score came in at 82.57, which means it is not merely a collectible Gator bottle. It is good enough to compete in next year’s 64-dram taste-off.

Death Roll gets the nod between the two, and bourbon fans who can score a bottle should pick one up, especially if they will be rooting for the Orange and Blue in the fall. But 4th Char is the better everyday drinker. It will be just as good when the game is off as when it is on.

If you are tailgating with Gators, you will want both bottles available to your crew.

And then there is the bonus pour: the Evan Williams Bourbon Nation Florida Gators edition.

This one is essentially Evan Williams Single Barrel dressed for game day. The label goes orange and blue, and the wax trades the standard look for Florida orange. Inside the bottle, though, it is still very much Evan Williams.

The color is typically light — honey to barely amber. The nose is a little oak-heavy, which is not surprising after seven years in the barrel, but nutmeg, caramel and vanilla still come through. The cherry-forward Evan Williams profile is still there on the palate, with toasted oak, caramel and vanilla playing supporting roles.

At 86.6 proof, the mouthfeel is noticeably thin, but the finish actually performs better than expected. Oak and cherry lead the way, but cinnamon makes a surprise appearance, and the finish lasts longer than I thought it would.

The overall score was 71.18, which does not put it into a competitive range. But honestly, it is not bad. It is just not going to be your favorite.

All things considered, if you are a Gator and a bourbon drinker, this is a fun little lineup.

Death Roll is the best bottle.

4th Char is the most practical bottle.

Evan Williams Bourbon Nation Florida Gators edition is the bottle you buy because, well, look at it.

If you can find all three, bring them to the tailgate, line them up beside the cooler, and let the Gator faithful decide for themselves.

Just maybe pour the Death Roll after kickoff.

Some things deserve a dramatic entrance.

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Copyright © 2026 Doug DeBolt.