Tastes

Yikes. I was fortunate enough to be near a liquor store that carried Orphan Barrel offerings. Overall, I have thought they were outstanding. Personally, I have had 4 bottles of Barterhouse, 4 bottle of Forged Oak, and Rhetoric 21, 22, 23 (2 bottles), and 25. I also had a bottle of Entrapment. I have also sampled Lost Prophet (yum) and Gifted Horse (limited as a mixer). All were unique and good, except Gifted Horse, which was average at best. The Fable and Folly is disappointing. Admittedly, I had heard that orphan barrel used old stocks of rhetoric and barterhouse and maybe some other offerings as well as an MGP rye. When I found out about this project, I immediately ordered two bottles. I just opened my first and am sorely disappointed. While the whiskey itself is good and above average, all I taste is MGP Rye. It overwhelms the palate and I don’t get any of the older whiskies in the nose or palate. It’s nice and has a nice finish, but you wouldn’t convince me I was drinking a whiskey that had forged oak, rhetoric or barterhouse unless you told me because those notes are not distinguishable within my first glass. I’d like to see the % makeup, because I think you’d be looking at 70%+ in younger whiskies, and not enough of the older stocks. It’s good, but it’s not $150/bottle good. Not even close.