Imagine a world where leftover whiskey, hidden in the back of distilleries and rick houses, is magically bottled and sold in your local Payless Liquors store. Well, that world is now a reality, with the help of The Orphan Barrel Whiskey Company out of Tullahoma, Tennessee. Orphan Barrel’s goal is to make the stories of lost whiskeys a thing of the past, and offer those rare bottles into small offerings for the world to taste.
Orphan Barrel Whiskey Company has turned lost whiskey into an incredible business venture. Not only do they produce a great product, but the story behind the bottles makes them even easier to sell. People enjoy the mysticism behind each sip of whiskey from one of Orphan Barrel’s bottles. There has got to be something said for the innovativeness that has been created with each product. Currently, Orphan Barrel is offering three whiskeys: Rhetoric, Old Blowhard and Barterhouse.
Rhetoric
This Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey has matured for 20 years in old vanilla oak barrels. The 90 proof bottle is full of character and flavor. Its profile can be described as firm in spices, dried fruit and caramel, while finishing full of cherry blossom, bitter chocolate and a hint of tobacco. Look forward to tasting the evolution of Rhetoric, as Orphan Barrel will be releasing a new matured bottle for the next six years as an experiment on barrel maturation.
Old Blowhard
For 26 years, this whiskey has been waiting to be enjoyed. Old Blowhard is rich with undertones of smoke and honey. Considered one of the most intense of the three Orphan Barrel releases, there is a robust flavor of tobacco, caramel and sweet maple syrup. The finish is gentle, but dry with hints of spice and orange peel. We recommend sipping Old Blowhard slowly and enjoy the many tastes it encompasses.
Barterhouse
Last but not least is a whiskey that has tasting notes of warm biscuits and buttercream. How delicious! It has been aged for 20 years and has a smooth creamy taste. The finish is sweet with brown sugar and a bit of spice. Enjoy Barterhouse for any occasion.
Currently at Payless Liquors we carry all three of the Orphan Barrel releases, but in limited quantities. So be sure to get your hands on a bottle. Keep in mind these are hidden whiskeys, “and once they’re gone, they’re gone forever.”
What do you think of this concept of uncovering hidden whiskey gems? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below!