Tried Forged Oak tonight....

[Bourbon_Gamer]

It' really good. Tastes like a sweeter, oakier Stagg Jr. I like it better than Lost Prophet. Review from my blog if you would like to see my tasting notes:

http://subourbia.com/first-impression-orphan-barrel-forged-oak/

[chrisg]

I'm interested in this one, especially with the price point.

[kjbeggs]

I may be in for a couple bottles of this one, which will be an Orphan Barrel first for me.

[Bourbon_Gamer]

Really? I like Barterhouse.

[kjbeggs]

Really? I like Barterhouse.

I think Barterhouse is OK myself, and I haven't outright hated any of them.

They all suit a certain craving (for instance, if it's cold outside and you are having a cigar around the firepit, Old Blowhard's woodiness hits the spot).

but there's other bottles that do what they do at a lower price, without filtering out so much flavor.

But for most, by the time I tried it, it was too late to find another bottle at retail anyway.

This one, I might be willing to gamble and grab two as soon as I find it.

[ModernThirst]

I tried it a couple months ago and posted notes on our site as well. I wouldn't say it resembles Stagg jr at all, as the New Bernheim DNA is unmistakable. More similar to recent Heaven Hill products. Oaky, lots of barrel char. Best of the Orphan Barrels so far.

http://modernthirst.com/2014/12/03/lost-prophet-preview-dinner-and-launch-at-stitzel-weller-and-a-new-orphan-barrel/

[callmeox]

Blogger fight. Blogger fight.

How about copying your notes into the thread so that we can compare?

You're not just linking here to improve your Google scores and driving clicks, right?

[bad_scientist]

Does anybody know how this can be 15 years old, when Diageo sold Bernheim in 1998? That would put this at 16 years, at least, unless they bottled it a year ago or tanked it. Or perhaps they just think the number 15 is catchier than the number 16.

[ModernThirst]

Does anybody know how this can be 15 years old, when Diageo sold Bernheim in 1998? That would put this at 16 years, at least, unless they bottled it a year ago or tanked it. Or perhaps they just think the number 15 is catchier than the number 16.

I want to say they told us the barreling dates and bottling dates at the preview dinner, but I don't have them written down anywhere...that may have just been on barterhouse and lost prophet, which were the other two we tasted. My guess is that these are bottled up and have been for a little while. Diageo's press releases say it was produced in 1997-98, so where the extra year or so was spent is a bit of a mystery to me.

Edited February 12, 2015 by ModernThirst

[cowdery]

Diageo sold Bernheim in 1999.

[GAbiker]

Diageo sold Bernheim in 1999.

Chuck, your math didn't fail you this time! 15 years is certainly possible!

[bad_scientist]

Diageo sold Bernheim in 1999.

D'oh! Still, if they were "produced" earlier, there's still a missing year. I find the earlier bottling idea pretty credible.

[BigBoldBully]

Does anybody know how this can be 15 years old, when Diageo sold Bernheim in 1998? That would put this at 16 years, at least, unless they bottled it a year ago or tanked it. Or perhaps they just think the number 15 is catchier than the number 16.

Brings up the interesting issue of whether there should also be a statement of maximum age. Imagine some company finding virtually undrinkable 40+ year old bourbon and bottling it as a 15 or 20 year old to more positively influence perceptions.

[MDBourbon]

Bought a bottle tonight and I will pick it up after work tomorrow. I have not tried any of the Orphan offerings but the reviews have been positive. I'd love to hear more from those who had a sip.

[wadewood]

Blogger fight. Blogger fight.

How about copying your notes into the thread so that we can compare?

You're not just linking here to improve your Google scores and driving clicks, right?

I totally agree. Especially when said bloggers are tasting samples for free and are just looking for more exposure so they can get more freebies. I say remove their web links from posts.

[ModernThirst]

Bought a bottle tonight and I will pick it up after work tomorrow. I have not tried any of the Orphan offerings but the reviews have been positive. I'd love to hear more from those who had a sip.

I tasted at the beginning of december and I'm posting from a phone, so I'm going from memory here. Forged Oak had a lot of barrel flavors- particularly some brown sugar and caramel, with plenty of tannins and char. It was, as I mentioned before, very much like many of Heaven hill's offerings. Long finish, and we all agreed that it drank like a higher proof bourbon (in comparison to BH and LP, which we'd just tasted prior).

[kjbeggs]

So, is Forged Oak going to be the one Orphan Barrel that doesn't languish on the shelves?

I've gotten a bottle I've yet to open, but have been keeping my eye out for another.

The big chains in my area are out of stock, and Total Wine and Goody Goody have removed it from their online inventory search.

[tanstaafl2]

Still wondering if my bottle of Forged Oak was just an outlier. I got little of what has been reported here and it was more than a little disappointing. But maybe it was just me. Hopefully the goat can let me know tomorrow!

[TXNewDude]

Specs had two bottles when I stopped by but they were allocated! I wasn't high up on the list enough to buy one...no fair

[km1589]

don't care much as to exact location, but has anyone seen this in IL? TX that seems ridiculous though i am new to this. is that a common practice?

Edited February 21, 2015 by km1589

[The Black Tot]

They've changed something. I think they've figured out that Barterhouse flooded most of the markets and languished, and even OBH languished in the Illinois market, for example.

It looks like their new strategy is to release smaller numbers to let us fight for 'em. Design more labels and release lower numbers.

I've enjoyed the Orphans so far but I'm going to be getting off the wagon if this is how it's going to be.

[TXNewDude]

don't care much as to exact location, but has anyone seen this in IL? TX that seems ridiculous though i am new to this. is that a common practice?

I'm new to this too. Specs has a key points program and allocates limited releases to those to have a higher number of points. I just learned about it so I didn't have enough points. Total Wine states they don't do such a thing and keep it first come, first serve. The allure of hunting down these bottles was fun for a bit, but I really should just sit back and enjoy the 30 bottles of tasty stuff I already have and just pick up new items when I just happen to see them on the shelves.

[garbanzobean]

I'm new to this too. Specs has a key points program and allocates limited releases to those to have a higher number of points. I just learned about it so I didn't have enough points. Total Wine states they don't do such a thing and keep it first come, first serve. The allure of hunting down these bottles was fun for a bit, but I really should just sit back and enjoy the 30 bottles of tasty stuff I already have and just pick up new items when I just happen to see them on the shelves.

I think I have Total Wine's LE bourbon nut cracked somewhat, depending how your store operates. If anyone is interested in the method I used to grab a couple of the BTAC releases this year, PM me.

Edit: its not anything shady, just observations on how the Maryland stores do their inventory systems.

[The Black Tot]

TXNewdude, don't trust anything Spec's tells you. You don't need to show your key to buy any limited, unless maybe it's Pappy or BTAC, which I have given up on dealing with them for.

The only reason I was in there recently was they got the entire region's allocation of Lost Prophet. I went downtown and asked, and got one (one per customer). They were gruff and condescending and sort of tested me that I knew what I was talking about before they'd admit having it, and I had a case of El Dorado 21 in my shopping cart (this helps psychologically but isn't necessary). Nobody asked to see my key, and they haven't for years except at check-out in order to get any discounts.

I have one bottle of Forged Oak lined up, but I don't think I'm worried about it.

[dcbt]

I'm new to this too. Specs has a key points program and allocates limited releases to those to have a higher number of points. I just learned about it so I didn't have enough points. Total Wine states they don't do such a thing and keep it first come, first serve. The allure of hunting down these bottles was fun for a bit, but I really should just sit back and enjoy the 30 bottles of tasty stuff I already have and just pick up new items when I just happen to see them on the shelves.

Eff Specs. http://www.straightbourbon.com/forums/showthread.php?21570-Spec-s-and-the-premiums