Orphan Barrel Forged Oak Review | Whiskey Raiders
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Orphan Barrel: Forged OakLead post image
87

Orphan Barrel Forged Oak

  • Distiller:

    Undisclosed

  • Bottler:

    Orphan Barrel

  • ABV:

    45.25%

  • Age:

    15 Years

  • Price:
    $$$$$
  • Raided Score: 87
  • Publication: Distiller
  • Excerpt: During the warm, lingering finish one finds orange bitters, and pepper.
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  • Raided Score: 90
  • Publication: The Whiskey Jug
  • Excerpt: The wood notes are nicely balanced out by sweeter and spicier notes and there is something about the overall character of the whiskey that sits just right with me.
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  • Raided Score: 72
  • Publication: Breaking Bourbon
  • Excerpt: While none of the Orphan Barrels have been a complete bomb, the best way to sum them up is with the saying, “I’m not mad at you. I’m just really disappointed in you.”
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  • Raided Score: 87
  • Publication: The Whiskey Wash
  • Excerpt: This is a nicely balanced dry bourbon, with plenty of oak and at $65 per bottle (750ml), this is not a bad deal for a 15 year old 90.5 proof bourbon.
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  • Raided Score: 91
  • Publication: Whisky Advocate
  • Excerpt: Not as distinctive as some previous Orphan Barrel releases, but more rounded and balanced. Nicely done!
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  • Raided Score: 96
  • Publication: Drinkhacker
  • Excerpt: The finish takes the bourbon into darker territory — more lumber and a touch of Madeira. That may sound like a bummer after all the ephemeral fun that’s come before, but it’s actually a nice counterbalance to what’s come before — and what follows in the next sip.
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  • Raided Score: 88
  • Publication: Wine Enthusiast
  • Excerpt: The aroma and palate show bold vanilla and a subtle waft of mesquite smoke. It finishes long and drying, with clove, cinnamon and black pepper spice.
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  • Raided Score: 88
  • Publication: Whiskey Raiders
  • Excerpt: This was interesting, as it didn't really stand out in too many ways other than being a very bourbon-y bourbon.
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Raided Score is a conversion from an external site's score, to our in house uniform scoring system. Please see the FAQ for more.

  • Intro:

    This was sent to me as a blind mystery and it was sampled live in the Whiskey Network Discord where I also got the reveal. I have filled in the relevant info here for convenience.

  • Nose:

    Molasses, clove, maple, allspice. Vanilla, toffee, oak. Quintessential bourbon notes, a bit corn forward.

  • Taste:

    Medium mouthfeel, no real heat. Fruity, lots of clove and pepper. Allspice, maple, vanilla and tobacco.

  • Finish:

    Short to medium in length, fruity orange, caramel and toffee.

  • Overall:

    This was interesting, as it didn't really stand out in too many ways other than being a very bourbon-y bourbon. I'm guessing that it is a bourbon that is 8-11 years in age, with an ABV of 45% -50%. It is not Beam distillate, nor is it Buffalo Trace distillate. Perhaps Heaven Hill. I'm going to give it a 5/10 - solid.

  • Score:

    5

  • By t8ke
  • Our in house critic rates spirits on a scale of 0-10 (10 best) and is aggregated the same as external sources
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