Parker's Heritage Orange Curaçao Barrel Finished

This tastes like a pre-mixed beverage. It's basically a bottled cocktail. If you were expecting an old fashioned made with a smooth, well-balanced, excellent bourbon and strong notes of orange bitters, you'd probably be quite satisfied. At 110 proof, sipped straight at room temperature, it drinks like a watered-down cocktail, which is quite astonishing and a clear indicator of quality spirits and expert aging. The orange is very prominent, but I certainly don't dislike the overall experience. It's noticeable and leans towards candied orange or a rock & rye, but again: think cocktail. I recall a generally unenthusiastic reaction when this was released. If there was an issue with this batch, it was the concept: while devoted American whiskey fans have come to expect unique offerings from the Parker's line, they still desire the ideal of a superb, pure, and authentic whiskey experience. This is an inventive approach that is actually quite good (in my opinion) but crossed an unspoken boundary for such a highly anticipated limited edition. I can see why it received a lukewarm reception from many who felt let down when they finally managed to get their hands on a coveted, well-known allocated release, only to discover it deviates significantly from their expectations and is harder to boast about to their bourbon-loving friends (regardless of whether rare bottles are truly a superior product or not). I appreciate this and it's likely worth the suggested retail price (~$90), but I don't fault those who disagree. I believe it would have been better suited as a standalone limited release at $60-$70, but Heaven Hill is certainly thriving without my unsolicited guidance and it's possible that opinions have gradually shifted over the last couple of years to accept this as a daring but worthwhile creation.

It smells minty, orangey, and slightly spicy with a hint of wood, but it has a surprisingly mild aroma. The palate is intensely orange with spice and a strong peppermint undertone that incorporates a bit of wintergreen. There's some sweetness, and it tastes somewhat like candy or orange Tic Tacs due to the flavor combination. It doesn't taste very mature or particularly potent, but it's not weak either. It's an intriguing experience, but I'm uncertain of its overall high quality. The wintergreen is very prominent, and I'm not fond of that. Orange Tic Tacs made of orange, peppermint, and spice could have been good, but the wintergreen really disrupts it. There's a subtle herbal presence in the background, but it's quite minimal. With a little water, the wintergreen and herbal notes become more noticeable, as does some orange toffee. The orange flavor becomes more pronounced and interesting, but it leaves me feeling like I should have just mixed bourbon with Curacao. What's the purpose of this? The balance is good, but it's not really what I seek in a whiskey, and it has too much wintergreen. There's some cereal that adds mineral notes and sweetness. Honestly, the complexity turns out to be quite good, and the balance mostly works, and the flavors are somewhat intriguing, but it lacks robustness for my preference and primarily reminds me of the initial stages of a cocktail. It would make a great cocktail, but I'm not a big fan of it as a bourbon. This bourbon is in no way worth the price.

A belated review, but to sum it up, this is brilliant. This bottle belonged to a friend, was half gone, and over a year old. I didn't notice the mint flavors others have reported, which makes me wonder if they fade over time or if it was late in a night of sampling. The nose is balanced with vanilla and orange zest. I can't identify any baking spice, but the zest had a mild character of its own. There's virtually no ethanol. A bit of wood comes through after swirling for a minute. It's impressively smooth on the tongue. Initial flavors include classic vanilla with mild nutmeg, oak, and floral notes. Then the magic happens. As it goes down, its oily nature emerges, bringing milk chocolate and orange zest again. It's like a journey between a classic 8-9 year old bourbon and a childhood chocolate orange. Perhaps it's my current interest in cask-finished bourbons, or maybe the orange mingling with a hot summer night. This is certainly different, but my expectations were pleasantly met this evening.

I recall years ago when I was beginning my spirit exploration with rum, and there was one absolute disaster: Pyrat XO Rum, which had added orange flavor. That was vile. Since then, apart from an actual orange in its whole form or as juice, nothing orange has touched my lips. Now, I didn't realize what curaçao was until I caught a whiff of this and thought, 'Hmm, smells like mint and something else.' I took a sip and then immediately spat it out as heavily ethanol-infused orangeness overwhelmed my palate. After a generous addition of water... ugh, no, it's really not working for me. If you enjoy high-proof ethanol mixed with peppermint and orange liqueur, you'll love this. Eventually, swirling it in my mouth wasn't too bad, even somewhat enjoyable, but then having to swallow, and that lingering aftertaste... I agree with another reviewer; a very generous 3 stars.

I genuinely like this. After sipping it for a bit, the orange becomes less noticeable than it initially is. The bourbon used for the finishing is absolutely top-notch. It appears most distillers finish spirits they want to mask the taste of. If the orange curaçao wasn't such a polarizing flavor, the bourbon inside would be award-winning. It's not for everyone. I love orange, so while it's definitely present on the palate and nose, especially the nose, it's not overpowering. It pairs perfectly with a vanilla-based dessert, like Crème brûlée or frozen custard. This isn't a drink for multiple large pours of bourbon; its place is with companions after dinner in small amounts.

The nose immediately presents oranges and a hint of ethanol. Adding a little water reveals vanilla notes, creating a nice orange creamsicle with a touch of caramel. The first sip offers a dry, buttery citrus upfront that smoothly transitions into familiar notes of oak, baking spices, and a subtle sweetness that develops into creamy vanilla with added water. The orange flavor persists throughout, but never overwhelms the spirit's core. The finish is long and lingering, though a harshness slightly detracts from the enjoyment. This one greatly benefits from controlled dilution.