Orphan Barrel - Fable & Folly - 14 Year
$150
Orphan Barrel – Fable & Folly – 14 Year
Proof: 90
Age: 14 Year Minimum Blend
Distillery: (Multiple) Blended – Prior Orphan Barrel Releases
Type: Blended Whiskey
Mash: Unknown – Blended
Website: Orphan Barrel
*Disclaimer: A score of 5 is the midpoint for my reviews. Above 5 I like it. Below 5 I didn’t for some reason. Most of my reviews are between 4-7. It takes something really really special to go above 7 or below 4. See the methodologies for rating at the end of the article
Nose: Musty Oak, Acetone, Old Book Store, Rye Spice, White Pepper, & Banana Foster. (Don’t let the “Acetone” turn you off. It’s not uncommon to pick that up in older drams. It is faint and the other aforementioned nose characteristics make this pleasant overall.
Taste/Palate: Creamy mouthfeel. A decent amount of Oak, Brown Sugar, and Crème Brule lead the way. In the midpalate Leather, Sweet Tobacco, and a bit of Barrel Char.
Finish: The palate carries through to the finish. The age is evident with predominant mature notes and Richness. The Rye comes forward and you get a bit of the spice to layer on top – Subtle Pepper and some All Spice. Pecans and Dried Fruit finish it off.
Verdict: I had to visit this a few times to come up with a complete review. There’s a lot to this blend. There’s definite maturity that reminded me of my Rhetoric 25 Review. It’s bold, mature, creamy, sweet, and very nice from start to finish. $150 is never “cheap” but this one is good enough I would purchase a second to replace the first. The second will be needed soon because this bottle is half gone sharing it with other whiskey lovers.
Price Ceiling: $149 – MSRP is fair (The most I’d pay for this bottle)
The Story: I was excited to find this bottle on my travels. If I see Orphan Barrel (Bourbons) I pick it up. The 14 year age statement was a little on the low side for Orphan Barrel, but that didn’t deter me. After completing my tasting notes and then into my research I was pleasantly surprised to learn about the blend of prior Orphan Barrel releases to make up this new Orphan Barrel offering.
The Distillery’s Story: “When our master blender discovered the last remaining stores of Orphan Barrel whiskies from years gone by, he thought it only fitting to share these whiskies with the world. He married the remaining stocks of Barterhouse, Forged Oak and various Rhetoric releases with aged rye and corn whiskies to create a masterful blend that pays homage to the original releases yet possesses a distinct profile all its own. This 14-year-old whiskey is a unique balance of age and flavor accenting the rich, creamy character of the orphaned bourbons with the spiciness of the aged rye whiskey. It begins with a burst of spice and delicately warms to a creamy richness with sweet notes of syrup and fruit.”
In summary this is a blend of Orphan Barrel from versions in the past. Orphan Barrel doesn’t disclose years or percentages or if the juice that was used in the prior series continued to age prior to being blended in Fable and Folly, but here’s what we know. Barterhouse was a 20 year from Stitzel-Weller. Forged Oak was a 15 year from KY. Rhetoric was a multiple release 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, & 25 year from KY. There’s another statement to pay attention to is “also blended in with aged rye and corn whiskies to create a masterful blend”. This appears to be where the 14 year comes from. As you probably already know, age stated whiskey carries the age of the youngest blend in the bottle. Once again, I do not know what percentage is new product and what’s from prior Orphan Barrel releases. In my humble opinion I do find similarities to the Rhetoric series.
Methodologies for Rating:
1. Dump it down the drain or regift it to someone you don’t care for.
2. This doesn’t even belong in a mixed drink. Use in case of an emergency.
3. It’s really not for me, but I heard some people like it.
4. Its only good when I’ve had too many and it’s decent in a mixer.
5. Average. Not bad, but not special.
6. Above average. Good to bring to an event and you wouldn’t expect any guff from it.
7. Buy two if you see it to make sure you have one on reserve.
8. Very Very good. Constantly a GREAT POUR.
9. Superb. If I were to drink this and only this from now on I’d be a happy person.
10. Perfection is impossible. But this really comes as close as you can possibly get.
Reviewer: David S
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