Rhetoric 22 Year Bourbon

Duel Review - Rhetoric 20 vs 22, neck pour BLIND. So quick background, I did have either the 22 or 23, I think it was the 23...there's an empty bottle around somewhere because I saved it, so I'd remember which. Of course...where I put it? Hell, if I know. OK so I loved that dang whisky so I'm kind excepted. Both bottles bought at "retail" 2020 retail which put these at 174.99...yeah, a dollar doesn't buy what it used to. Nose - Whiskey 1 - fruity vanish, cherries, berries, and oh so much oak. Whiskey one is hitting on all those classic ultra-aged bourbon notes with a powerful sweet fruity nose up front and then slowly giving way to aged oak. Overall, we've at a near perfect balance for me where the sweet fruits, chocolates, and that leather vanish dominate and the oak is there to complement but not overpower. Whiskey 2 - While whiskey 1 jumps out of the glass and screams LOOK AT ME, this one is more subtle and subdued. I get very little sweetness, just alcohol notes and oak. Here I get a dusty closet and some peanut or some kinds of nuts. I wouldn't dare dream these two bourbons shared anything in common. Now after some time and swirling and frankly, slowly coating the glass the sweetness is starting to tease its' way out. Now some chocolate is coming, some sweet corn, but still even as the oak fades a touch it's mostly breads and baking notes on the back end where I'm looking for oak and very little up front. Taste - due to the notes doing whiskey 2 first. Whiskey 2 - The first thoughts are buttery oak, tannins, and a LOT of vanilla at the end. Caramel is minimal, fruits aren't showing up, and there's a second kind of vanilla here (one is standard bourbon and the other is almost waxy vanilla creamer). A very odd duck and frankly, not one I'm going back to. Whiskey 1 - Sweeter up front, far more just older bourbon character. It also gives off this alcohol and dryness often that comes from super aged bourbons where it dries you out a bit and gives off that vanish note. So here we get vanilla and caramel with old leather, alcohol soaked oak chips, tannins, and light sweet dark notes. I'm often one of the loudest advocates of my life for OLD bourbon though I fully admit that the ultra-aged stuff can get a bit over the top with oak, those BAD ones. Here I think we're on the wrong side but despite also being a proof snob, I'm crossing my fingers water might just save the day! Nose - Water hasn't done much good or bad to our first bourbon. Perhaps it brought back out the sweetness which has somewhat fading while drinking it. It remains a wonderful bourbon nose. Whiskey 2 feels sweeter and more integrated. It's become a bit creamier, vanilla, and now I'm getting a sweet caramel. Still not getting more than perhaps a touch of a dusty leather that I'd expect with a super aged bourbon. Water opens both whiskies up as well bringing a bit more sweetness and a bit more oak. Balance isn't really found and the finishes on both are vanilla and oak. The opening for whiskey 1 is very good but misses greatness and then it finishes poorly, but the finish is long Oakey and lingers well. Whiskey two is bitter and while it too has a long enough finish, the buttery notes are still here. Ok pick 1 easily here. I am told the 22 is the best of the lot but frankly, if I had to guess, 2 is the older juice. Let’s see Whiskey 1 - 22 year Whiskey 2 - 20 year Welp so much for me guessing age. The 22 year just blows the 20 out of the water. 2 stars for the 22 and 1.5 stars for the 20. These are easy passes despite the 22 having a nose worthy of a 3.75 whisky and an upfront taste worthy of a 3.25.

What a nice bourbon to open up a post-work, day-drinking session. When working the graveyard shift you have to adjust your Happy Hour to a more appropriate time: 9-11am. Sadly, no bars around my town understand that, so I have to take matters into my own hands. A big thanks to Ryan for saving me a sample of this elusive whiskey. This is the third Orphan Barrel whiskey I've had the pleasure of trying and I've got say right up front- they were all good, but this one is damn fine. It's spent a measly 22 years in the oak (measly by Scotch standards, lol). It's a deep copper color and smells heavily of oak and vanilla. On the tongue, it's quite oily and very woodsy. The rye is really tamed well by the barrel notes and the long rest has smoothed this thing out wonderfully. The flavor isn't muted at all it's just heavy oak, vanilla and rye. Typical rye whiskey, just very velvety and delicious. The finish is long, warm and a bit spicy. I'm not a big bourbon guy, especially rye whiskey, but I feel like this one is well worth the hefty price tag. If you buy one, though, don't put it away in your closet- drink it. Fantastic juice. 4.5 stars. Cheers, my friends

As compared to the 21 year bottling this was a step up for me. Unlike the 21 year there were no flaws on the nose. The nose also added a welcome bit of cremation brûlée and faint allspice. The palate was equally thin to the 21 but with an enjoyable mouth coating quality. There was a pleasant balance of dry wood, toasted marshmallow, anise and a hint of apricot jam as well a pinch of cigar wrapper. This, unlike the 21 year, this I could drink all day. It’s well rounded and adds in a pleasant bit of spice and just a touch of fruit. The low proof leaves it with less burn than robitussin but also less of a finish. If it wasn’t over $100 you wouldn’t need the finish because you could sip it all day. Therein lies another kicker - aside from the novelty of tasting this bourbon as it ages the sticker shock makes it a little harder to swallow. In a world where 12-15 year old bourbons command between $80-300+ the value per year of age isn’t unreasonable despite lack of any real wow factor.

The nose features a nice balance of fresh biscuits and toast, along with pleasing amounts of vanilla. The palate coats the mouth with vanilla and oak, with baking spices and pepper backing it up. The finish is medium long with fading vanilla, cinnamon and oak. Deliciously simple.

Mmmmm. Fruity aroma. I was expecting a strong woody taste, but it wasn't there. It seemed to have a little bit of a fruitiness note. Warm, smooth (but not Sinatra Select smooth). I really enjoyed it. One of the better whiskeys I've tasted.

I would say 4.5. Better than I expected given the reviews for the 20 & 21 yr. Awesomely balanced, there's a lot of oak but for me it works quite well. I found mine for $109, and it's amazing at that price.