Rhetoric 23 Year Bourbon

I'm just sifting through tobacco leaves, sitting on a weary, dusty mahogany throne adorned with a buffalo pelt overlooking a library of dusty tomes. Don’t mind me. You really need to love oak to like Orphan Barrel Rhetoric. A 20+ year old bourbon is not for those who want something alive and vibrant. But I love the old oaky stuff; the ancient wood oil and syrup that forms legs that do not fall; the smell of must and dust; the taste of leather and black cherries. This almost loses its bourboness and tastes like an over-oaked anything. A friend once had a Hart Brothers Strathisla single malt heading towards 40 years old that tasted similar. The spirit is gone, but you can still appreciate the senile, wrinkled complexity imparted by the wood. This deserves an oversized cognac snifter to appreciate. If you let this breath for a while, or add a few drops of water, it does wake up and offer some of the fruitier and spicier properties of a bourbon, but I prefer staring and nosing this antiquity neat, thinking if the Library of Alexandria melted and was bottled, it would taste something like this. Score: * (unforgettably good) How much does a bottle cost: Retail is around $140. Secondary market pricing is $200-450 How much do I think a bottle is worth?: $140

A liquor store employee suggested this tastes like Pappy Van Winkle 23 year. I haven't had the chance to confirm if that's accurate. Still, I feel fortunate to sample this. My expectations for Orphan Barrel products are quite high. It has a sharp, sour aroma, reminiscent of green apples or citrus. A touch of earthiness is present. I'm very fond of this smell. Taste includes some lemon and tobacco notes. The conclusion significantly increases the warmth. It presents as cinnamon, pepper, leather, and smoke. The aroma is unquestionably the most appealing aspect of this spirit. The way the tobacco evolves into heat is truly captivating. I don't smoke cigars, but the mouthfeel and aftertaste strongly evoke the memory of a fine cigar enjoyed with a companion in the evening. While I'm not enthusiastic about the overall message, I acknowledge its excellent execution. A spirit with this price point ought to be intricate and convey a narrative. This one succeeds admirably at both.

When first tasted, significant oak and sweetness were noted, with little else detected. It was suggested it might evolve. Three weeks on, the aroma presents more fruit, quite potent, reminiscent of a sour beer. Oak is present, alongside potential hints of cloves and brown sugar. The taste features the prominent oak, but with added floral elements and baking spices contributing to the sweetness. The finish brings more oak and a pronounced char, with roasted ginkgo seeds, a touch of bitter chocolate, and pecan shell. Curiously, it has a texture that is both creamy and thin. While still dominated by acidic oak, it has revealed more complexity. The hope is for further development. 5/16/18 A slight evolution has occurred, with earthy notes and caramel emerging. However, the oak character remains very pronounced. 5/27/18

Quick Summary: Since this is the most aged bourbon I've sampled so far, I expected more complexity. I appreciate oak, but this is overwhelmingly oak in many forms, and it's practically the only flavor I detect. Nose: A strong acetone note is surprising, followed by dark cherry and a touch of chocolate. Palate: Musty oak. It's intense and lingers for about a minute. It might evolve into caramel, pepper, and brown sugar notes, but the oak remains. Perhaps even too much so. Finish: Stale. It's peculiar. I also get oak in the finish, but it tastes... stale. Enjoyment: Infrequent.

Absolutely neat. Aroma: A harsh aroma, almost intensely oaky, peppery, cinnamon, and I thought perhaps anise was the only thing I could identify. Or maybe oaky molasses. I'm not sure. It's almost unpleasantly strong, but you keep returning to try and discern it. Taste: Things shifted dramatically on the palate. Immediately tangy, cherry, sweet with plenty of complexity and variation with each sip. Not a lot of spice, but a pleasantly moderate length finish regardless. A personal favorite, even though I usually prefer chocolate and wheat dominant spirits. Really fun!

The prior review covers it well. If you dig heavy oak, which is to say, not standard bourbon, give this a shot. For myself, a harshness stood out that put me off. When first opened, the smell is amazing. It's a great scent. The flavor, though, was decent - quite oaky, as expected, but with a slight bitterness that lingered on my tongue. I'm really pleased to have it among my bottles; it's definitely worth the impressiveness and showing off to pals. I won't be getting another one, though. I figure this bottle will last me another 23 years!!!