Rhetoric 25 Year Bourbon

Nose: Notes of charred oak, leather, candied bacon, cinnamon, allspice, evergreen (cedar?), cocoa powder, apple, orange peel, vanilla, and black tea. A hint of smoke. Highly complex, with evolving aromas as it sits. Some notes remind me of older Armagnacs. Palate: A soft, velvety texture that coats the palate without being overly thick. Initial flavors include dark brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, bittersweet chocolate, toast, vanilla, rye spice, and a touch of spearmint. The dry finish lingers with oak, baking spices, a bit of smoke/char, and some tannins. Adding a few drops of water diminished the bourbon's appeal. The nose became sweeter but less intricate. The palate flattened, and the finish turned slightly astringent. It was definitely better without water. I thoroughly enjoyed this. While some describe Orphan Barrel and older Heaven Hill releases as excessively oaked, akin to sucking on wood, that was not my experience. Rhetoric 25 lacks the bitterness I associate with truly over-oaked spirits (which isn't necessarily tied to age; many young Texas whiskeys under 4 years old are quite bitter and over-oaked).

I was anticipating an almost overpowering, overly oaked wood assault. I was pleasantly surprised, and this is a bottling that few enjoy, so I can only imagine how much better the 20-24 year old variations taste. The nose is oaky but balanced immediately with cherry, corn sweetness, and caramel coming from the glass, along with a bit of ethanol. If you look past the dominant notes, you can find vanilla, char, and a malty character. A very heavy and rich bourbon. The palate is led by creamy vanilla, corn, and fruit sweetness, along with wood, followed closely by caramel, barrel, and rye spices. The finish is medium, with spice on the tongue leading the way and yielding to vanilla and sweetness, leaving you with cherry and apple, plus a dryness from the wood and barrel char notes. With water and/or time, the vanilla cream and sweetness intensify, and the spice and oak character is reduced by half. However, the apple note, being minor, gets lost with the water/time, and nothing tones down the char notes from 25 years in a barrel.

This is one of the most distinctive bourbons I've encountered. The nose has a familiar "lead paint" funk, similar to Old Fitz 15. Initially, I detected a wave of vibrant fruits, which then settled into a dominant dark, heavy cherry flavor on the palate. The finish, frankly, is somewhat lacking; I had hoped for more length. This is likely the best "weird/unique" bourbon I've tried. I probably won't actively seek it out, but I would purchase it at retail if I saw it again. I employ the rating scale below. The producer uses a 5-point scale, while I use a 10-point scale, but I trust you can manage the conversion!

Caramel Sweet caramel, butterscotch, mild salty brine, vanilla, oak, tannin, spicy leather, traces of dried fruit Sweet and salty caramel, butterscotch, vanilla, spicy notes, then medium oak and rye burn take over after 5 to 10 seconds, but it's mild for Orphan Barrel, followed by moderate tannin fur, then nutty, leather, sweet butterscotch, caramel, vanilla, maple, cedar, cinnamon notes for a very smooth and complex finish Adding drops of water brings out nutty, buttery tannin cinnamon notes, though butterscotch and maple decline. I would likely skip the water. Tasted head to head with the 24 year, and the 25 is much smoother with far more complex notes during its long, very smooth finish.

Explosive aromas greet me: caramel, butterscotch, anise, mint, cinnamon, dark cocoa powder, black cherry, cedar, oak, pine, medicinal, shoe polish. So much is contained within, eager to be released from the bottle. The flavor profile is multi-layered. Initially, it feels luxurious in the mouth, incredibly smooth with minimal burn. It begins with hints of smoke and cinnamon, transitioning into caramel turtles, vanilla, oak, and even more oak dominating the exceptionally long finish. Minutes pass. My first experience with a bourbon of this age, and I'm impressed. They've done an excellent job balancing the sweetness with the oak tannins that come with extended barrel aging. Now, I must try not to consume it too quickly...

Tasted after having a Rock Hill Farm and a Black & Blue burger, so some of the flavors might be influenced by those.... It has a dark amber color, as expected for something aged 25 years in the barrel. The aroma is warm and pleasant, with vanilla, light caramel, and wood notes. It starts sweet and then fully expands to coat the mouth with a smooth spicy sensation. Very nicely balanced, with no burn, and a medium-long finish that actually develops as it lingers before fading. To my surprise, it's not heavy or long in the throat. A very enjoyable, sippable bourbon. If I could purchase a bottle, I would, and I'd save it for a special occasion with dear companions.