Rhetoric 25 Year Bourbon

Nose - charred oak, leather, candied bacon, cinnamon, allspice, evergreen (cedar?), cocoa powder. apple, orange peel, vanilla, black tea. A bit of smoke. Really complex, with different notes coming out as it breathes. Some of the notes I'm getting remind me of older Armagnacs I've had. Palate - Soft velvety mouthfeel isn't really thick, but coats the palate. Starts with dark brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, bittersweet chocolate, toast, vanilla, rye spice, and a hint of spearmint. Oak, baking spices, a bit of smoke/char and some tannins linger on the dry finish, which is quite lengthy. A few drops of water didn't do this bourbon any favors. The nose became a bit sweeter but also less complex. The palate flattened out, and got a little astringent on the finish. Definitely preferred it without water. I really like this one. People talk about Orphan Barrel and older Heaven Hill releases being over-oaked and similar to sucking on a two-by-four, but that wasn't my experience. Rhetoric 25 doesn't have that bitterness that I associate with truly over-oaked whiskey (which BTW doesn't have to be super-old - there's a lot of bitter, over-oaked whiskey coming out of TX that's less than 4yrs old).

I was expecting an almost unbearable over-oaked wood bomb. I was pleasantly surprised and this is the one that few like so I can only imagine how much better the 20-24 year variations taste like. Nose is oak but balanced with cherry, corn sweetness and caramel coming out of the glass immediately with a bit of ethanol. If you dig behind the dominant notes vanilla, char, malty note can be found. Very heavy and rich bourbon. The creamy vanilla, corn and fruit sweetness and wood take the lead on the palate, with the caramel, barrel and rye spices coming in right after. Finish is medium with the spice on the tongue leading the way and yielding to the vanilla and sweetness and you are left with cherry and apple and a dryness from the wood and barrel char notes. With water and/or time the vanilla cream and sweetness is intensified and the spice and oak character is cut in half. However the apple note because it is minor is lost with the water/time and nothing tones down the char notes from 25 years in a barrel.

One of the most unique bourbons I’ve tasted. Very familiar “lead paint” funkiness on the nose. Similar to Old Fitz 15. Originally hit with a wave of crazy fruits but it settled down to being mainly dark heavy cherry on the palate. Finish is rather lacking if I’m honest. Was hoping for a longer finish. This is probably the best “weird/unique” bourbon I’ve had. Probably won’t search it out but I’ll but it at retail if I ever see it. I use the rating scale below. Distiller uses a scale of 5 and I use a scale of 10, but I’m sure you’re not too drunk to do the math! 1. Disgusting - So bad I poured it out. 2. Poor - I wouldn't consume by choice. 3. Bad - Multiple flaws. 4. Below average - Not bad, but many things I'd rather have. 5. Good - Just average. 6. Very Good - Better than average. 7. Great - Well above average. 8. Excellent - In a league of its own. 9. Incredible - An all-time favorite. 10. Perfect

Caramel Sweet caramel, butterscotch, mild salty brine, vanilla, oak, tannin, spice leather, traces of dried fruit Sweet and salty caramel, butterscotch, vanilla, spicy notes then medium oak and rye burn 5 to 10 seconds in takes over but mild for Orphan Barrel then moderate tannin fur followed by nutty, leather, sweet butterscotch, caramel, vanilla, maple, cedar, cinnamon notes for very smooth and complex finish Drops of water bring forward nutty, buttery tannin cinnamon notes though butterscotch and maple decline. Would likely do without 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 jumping out at me, caramel, butterscotch, annise, mint, cinnamon, dark cocoa powder, black cherry, cedar, oak, pine, medicinal, shoe polish. So much going on in here and its screaming to be let out of the bottle. Multi leveled flavor here. First, its luxurious in the mouth. So smooth and very little burn. Starts with some smoke and cinnamon, turns into caramel turtles, vanilla, oak, and more oak dominate the super long finish. Minutes First experience with a bourbon of this age and I am a fan. Excellent job balancing sweetness with oak tannins that come with barrel age. Now to try and not drink it too fast...

Tasting following a Rock Hill Farm and a Black & Blue burger, so may be some carryover from those.... Dark Amber appearance, as would be expected for 25 years in the barrel. Warm, pleasant nose with vanilla, light caramel and oak. Sweet up front then fully expanding to fill your mouth with a smooth spice experience.Very nice balance, no burn, with a medium long finish in the mouth. actually builds as it lingers, then fades. Not heavy or long in the throat to my surprise. very enjoyable, sippable bourbon. if I could buy a bottle, I would, and save it for a special occasion with special friends.