Orphan Barrel Rhetoric - 25 Year - Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
$150
Orphan Barrel Rhetoric – 25 Year – Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Collection: Orphan Barrel Rhetoric
Proof: 91
Age: 25 Years
Distillery: Found at Bernheim Distillery
Type: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Mash: 86% Corn, 8% Barley, 6% Rye
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: Leather, Baking Spices, Musty Basement, a hint of Nail Polish Remover (weird I know, but I get this smell from time to time and the rest of the group agreed with the smell after I pointed it out), & Cinnamon. To be honest the nose didn’t impress me much. It wasn’t bad, but not what I expected for a 25 year old. If it was a blind taste test I would report back that overall I liked the nose, but knowing upfront that it’s a 25 year I was a little surprised.
Taste/Palate: Boom! There it is! This is very very good. This was another surprise. You usually expect what you pick up in the nose to carry over to the taste. My number one favorite taste profile is when a bourbon tastes the way a Rickhouse smells. I’ve only found this in some older bourbons. I.E. – I.W Harper 15, Pappy Van Winkle 23, and now Rhetoric 25. I love the taste of this one. I get Leather, slight Barrel Char, Old Oak, Sweet Cherries, and Caramel.
Finish: Medium Finish. Leather again. A sweetness that carries through with a creamy Crème Brule. Light Spice on the tail end.
Verdict: Packed with surprises. At first I was worried. Many say that they like Pappy 20 over Pappy 23 because the extra 3 years sitting in the oak is too much. Here’s a 25 year old and sitting that long in Oak could be a great thing or a disaster. This is a great bourbon and worth every penny at MSRP ($150).
MSRP: BUY! Price Ceiling: $200ish (The most I’d pay for this bottle)
The Story: My friend’s mom found this for him while at a rural liquor store. He was kind enough to share it with me and give it a taste. I’ve had this on 3 separate occasions and was blown away every time. We did a head to head tasting of this vs the Orphan Barrel Copper Tongue 16 and this won hands down. It was a blind tasting and 4 out of 4 voted for the Rhetoric 25.
The Distillery’s Story: Diageo owns the Orphan Barrel brand. As explained in the prior Orphan Barrel Post. Diageo is a monster distillery owner and the umbrella corporation over many main brands you see every day (Don Julio, Crown Royal, Ketal One, Bullet Bourbon, Baileys, George Dickel, etc.). Rhetoric comes from the Bernheim Distillery. Due to Diageo buying IW Harper brand and Heaven Hill owning the Bernheim Distillery after the purchase I can only assume that this came from the IW Harper Bernheim Distillery , but due to mergers, acquisitions, and asset transfers I’m not 100% sure who owned what and where these barrels sat for 25 years. Diageo bought IW Harper in 1997, so these barrels are older than the purchase. IW Harper was taken off the US market for 20 years so my guess is that these barrels sat and IW Harper only has a young brand and a 15 year old. It makes sense that barrels would be rebranded as Orphan Barrel a successful coveted line. They increase the age each year it’s released that that’s where I’m getting my guesses from. I love I.W. Harper so if these came from the same distillery as the 15 year it would be no surprise why I like it so much, albeit they are likely of different mash bills. (Please note, this information came from research and the rest is speculation, I’m happy to update with corrections).
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. Solid. It hit all of what’s expected.
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.
Nose, Palate, and Finish I rank regardless of cost. Value (recent addition) is ranked based on taste vs price.
Reviewer: David S
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