Orphan Barrel Distilling Whiskey Company

Barterhouse 20 Year Old Bourbon Review

Last week I posted about the first of Orphan Barrel’s new releases – Old Blowhard.   Now we’re looking at their 20 year old Barterhouse Bourbon.  Where Old Blowhard is a one time release, Barterhouse might be with us for a little while longer.

(Disclaimer:  I was sent a small review sample of Barterhouse from Diageo.)

Barterhouse Bottle Shot_Hi-Res

What a difference six years in the barrel makes!  Where I found the 26 year old Old Blowhard dry, Barterhouse packs a slightly bigger kick, even at a slightly lower proof (90.2 versus 90.7).  There’s much more of that signature bourbon caramel smell, but at 20 years you can make out a lot of oak.  Barterhouse isn’t an overly sweet bourbon.  It’s an earthier, spicier whiskey than Old Blowhard.  The finish is long, and you get a little oak and some brown sugar.  I like this finish more than that of Old Blowhard.

At $75 a bottle, Barterhouse is half the price of Old Blowhard.  It’s not as complex a whiskey as it’s 26 year old counterpart either.  Don’t get me wrong – Barterhouse is not a bad whiskey.  Quite the opposite.  I just think it’s a bit overpriced.  $50-$60 a bottle would have been much easier to swallow.  Then again, I’m not in the business of selling or pricing whiskies.  Have you tried Barterhouse?  Comment below and share your thoughts.

Try before you buy.  7.5/10

Old Blowhard 26 Year Old Bourbon Review

Diageo introduced a new line of whiskies – Orphan Barrel Whiskey Distilling Company.  Its purpose is to release rare and old whiskies from its stocks.  The first two releases, Old Blowhard and Barterhouse, have recently hit shelves, with more releases planned for later this year.

(Disclaimer:  I was sent small review samples of both Old Blowhard and Barterhouse from Diageo.)  This review will cover Old Blowhard.

Old Blowhard Bottle Shot_Hi-Res

Old Blowhard bourbon was aged for 26 years.  I was in third grade when this was distilled.  Yikes!  Before I get into how it tastes, I want to talk about packaging.  Like I said in a previous post, the most important aspect of a whiskey is how it tastes and smells.  However, packaging plays a small but important factor.  If you go to a liquor store and browse the shelves, a bottle’s shape and label can draw you in or get lost on the shelf.  Old Blowhard’s old-time inspired label is among my favorites.  It’s a gorgeous nautical-themed label affixed to an elegant bottle.   So, how does this 26 year old 90.7 proof whiskey taste?

Oaky.  Then again, you have to expect that from a whiskey this old.  It’s not all oak, though.  There’s some faint caramel when you smell it, but it’s hiding behind oak.  There’s some depth in flavor here. It’s rich and a little spicy.  There’s a little sweetness.  Not caramel-sweet…  more like dried fruit sweet. It’s definitely not your average bourbon.  The finish is quick and dry.  No slow burn here.  I really wish it lasted longer.

I like this whiskey.  So much in fact that I decided to treat myself to a bottle.  I went to three different liquor stores before I found one and picked it up $20 cheaper than the suggested retail price of $150.  There are older and more expensive bourbons out there (Pappy Van Winkle 23 and Jefferson’s Presidential Reserve 30 year), so Old Blowhard is cheaper in comparison. However, $150 is still pretty pricey.  Note, all three stores I visited did not have them on the shelf.  You’ll probably have to ask for it.

Tasting Old Blowhard was an interesting and pleasant experience.  It’s the oldest whiskey I’ve tasted (remember, I’m still new to the game).   I’ll gladly go back to Old Blowhard again.  Not too often though – once this release of Old Blowhard is gone, that’s it.   Get it while you can if you’ve got some spare cash and are looking for an older, occasional sipper.  Have you tasted Old Blowhard?  Share your thoughts below.

8.5/10