The Orphan Barrel Project

[pooch]

Has anyone tried them all? I guess there is a new one coming out, Forged Oak. I've only tried the Rhetoric and it's been long enough that I dont really remember it. For those that have tried them all, how would you rank them?

Barterhouse

Rhetoric

Old Blowhard

Lost Prophet

I think that's all of them in order of release. I still see Rhetoric and Barterhouse around from time to time but never buy them. The price tag seems to be a bit much for something that doesnt really seem to be limited.

[ThirstyinOhio]

My preference is Lost Prophet, Barterhouse, Rhetoric, and then Old Blowhard.

[ModernThirst]

In my experience:

Forged Oak > lost prophet > rhetoric > barterhouse > old blowhard

[pooch]

I didnt realize the Forged Oak was out already. What did you pay if you dont mind me asking?

[ModernThirst]

I didnt realize the Forged Oak was out already. What did you pay if you dont mind me asking?

[kjbeggs]

In my experience:

BARTERHOUSE, slightly better than-

RHETORIC, which was a good bit better than-

OLD BLOWHARD.

I have not opened my LOST PROPHET, but expect it will be in the same wheelhouse as Barterhouse and Rhetoric.

If/when I find FORGED OAK, I expect it to take the top spot, based on early reviews.

[kjbeggs]

and just saw this:

http://www.bourbonblog.com/blog/2015/01/28/forged-oak-bourbon-orphan-barrel/

Next month, and $65.00-

might be their best release overall.

[ModernThirst]

In my experience:

BARTERHOUSE, slightly better than-

RHETORIC, which was a good bit better than-

OLD BLOWHARD.

I have not opened my LOST PROPHET, but expect it will be in the same wheelhouse as Barterhouse and Rhetoric.

If/when I find FORGED OAK, I expect it to take the top spot, based on early reviews.

Lost prophet is very different from the first three.

Here are my notes from the tasting

[pooch]

It isnt, to my knowledge. I went to a preview tasting with some other reviewers and writers back in december. It was technically a lost prophet preview, but they surprised us with samples of forged oak, too.

Ah. That makes sense as I'd read it wont be out until next month.

If I find Forged Oak for 65 (give or take a few bucks), I'll probably pick it up.

[ModernThirst]

I'm probably a buyer at msrp as well. $65 is about right. $75 and I'd pass Having already tasted it once. It is very Heaven Hillish, which I like.

Edited January 29, 2015 by ModernThirst

[garbanzobean]

15 years is about as old as I generally like my bourbon, so I may give this one a shot if it's at or below MSRP.

[smokinjoe]

I have seen mention a few times in various threads that the OB bourbons are heavily filtered. I missed where Diageo explained this , and I'm interested in learning more on which processes they used for it. Can someone point me to where this was revealed?

[Auracom]

I'm pretty interested in Forged Oak at that age and msrp. Will have to let my bourbon guy know I'm in for one.

[393foureyedfox]

if they release many more "orphan barrels", they will have to start calling this the "Orphan Rickhouse Project"

[tanstaafl2]

I have seen mention a few times in various threads that the OB bourbons are heavily filtered. I missed where Diageo explained this , and I'm interested in learning more on which processes they used for it. Can someone point me to where this was revealed?

My sense is that this is more a presumption on the part of reviewers/customers rather than anything that has been verified. But if there is anything official I would be happy to read it as well!

[mopgcw]

We have tried all 4 -- and side by side. We even did a blind taste but it wasn't exact as we had the other 3 a couple times prior so had some familiarity, but it was interesting to do.

FWIW, Barterhouse was the overall favorite, followed by Blowhard, Rhetoric and Lost Prophet. the boys felt the oak overwhelms in the end and far preferred the younger barterhouse.

[smokinjoe]

...the boys felt the oak overwhelms in the end and far preferred the younger barterhouse.

Because...the closer a whiskey is to 18 months of aging in a 10 gallon barrel, the better?

[Restaurant man]

Because...the closer a whiskey is to 18 months of aging in a 10 gallon barrel, the better?

I'm sorry if this has been mentioned but the names just sleigh me. Lost profit? Forged oak? Etc. Can't help the feeling that diageo is fucking with me. ?

[gotzero]

I'm sorry if this has been mentioned but the names just sleigh me. Lost profit? Forged oak? Etc. Can't help the feeling that diageo is fucking with me. 

I feel that way about all of them except Barterhouse. The series reminds of me of "Roger Dodger" where the advertising executive tries to make potential dates feel bad about themselves in order to be saved by him. Around my neck of the woods, these bottles are taking up a lot of prominent behind-the-register space at local stores, including many where I would never assume I would see $100+ bottles of bourbon.

blowhard |ˈblōˌhärd| noun N. Amer. informal a person who blusters and boasts in an unpleasant way: a bunch of pompous blowhards trying to get on the news |[ as modifier ] : local blowhard politicians.

rhetoric |ˈretərik| nounthe art of effective or persuasive speaking or writing, especially the use of figures of speech and other compositional techniques.• language designed to have a persuasive or impressive effect on its audience, but often regarded as lacking in sincerity or meaningful content: all we have from the opposition is empty rhetoric.

[BigBoldBully]

if they release many more "orphan barrels", they will have to start calling this the "Orphan Rickhouse Project"

Exactly. I cannot get over how thick on the ground this stuff is--almost as easy to find as JD or EWB.

Makes me imagine that for many years hundreds of thousands of reject and excess barrels accumulated and changed ownership, with various managers puzzling over how to unload them, daydreaming that someday there would be a bourbon boom big enough to justify pretending some (a nearly endless supply) of old honey barrels had been discovered and bottling the stuff for sale at what would no longer strike the gullible public as insane prices.

[steeltownbbq]

Mr. Cowdery states in the latest edition of The Bourbon County Reader that Diageo may have 1000's of old barrels in storage in the old S-W rickhouses. And Diageo, as usual, is being disingenuous with providing any information.