Parker's Heritage Barrel Finished in Orange Curaçao Barrels

Neat. Really fun taste. Nose presents itself with classic flavors. Lot of fruits in the background. Nice creamy mouth. Orange is there on the long legs. It’s interesting how the orange waits to announce itself until the end.

Out the gate this has some serious heat and alcohol burn, give it an ice cube and 5-10 mins and you'd think it's 80 proof. So damn smooth and orangey with a woody finish and I am a huge fan. You can tell it's viscous but it resists coating your mouth. Doesn't taste as young as it is.

I received a sample of this bourbon from a guy I work with whose father in law is as much into bourbon as I am into scotch, but with a bigger budget. Parker’s Heritage is known for doing different barrel finishes, this one was matured 7-8 years and then spent 4 months in orange curaçao barrels. What’s orange curaçao you ask? Well I’ll tell you. It is a liqueur that is flavored with bitter orange peels. Technically it’s the peels of the Laraha citrus fruit. What’s the Laraha citrus fruit you ask? Well I’ll tell you. It’s a descendant of the bitter orange and the fruit is too bitter and fibrous to be considered edible. Why is it called curaçao and not Laraha you ask? Well I’ll tell you. The Laraha grows on the island of Curaçao located in the southern Caribbean Sea just north of Venezuela and east of Aruba. The Laraha is also known as the Curaçao Orange. Any time I mention oranges in this review, please note that I am specifically referring to the Laraha citrus fruit. Enough botany for today? Good, let’s get on to the whiskey. Bottled at 55% ABV and is non chill filtered and natural color of a red mahogany with orange hues. A very pretty color. The nose is dominated by the orange curaçao from the get go. Strong orange oil, orange peel and oak. A definite pine note as well. Orange sherbet/creamsicle, candied oranges. Equally sweet and bitter. The nose just screams mid to late October with baking spices, oak and oranges. Very unique. Some vanilla and chocolate start to come through along with candy corn. Baked apples & pears, brown sugar and caramel. Nutty, perhaps Brazil or pecans. Strong barrel char and a hint of mint. Water brings out more sweetness and tones down the bitterness, warmer with more of the classic bourbon notes. More caramel, toffee, vanilla custard and buttercream frosting. More corn. The palate is sweet for the first couple seconds, then a wave of spice takes over. On the bitter side after that with orange peel/oil. Oranges & cream, strong oak and a bit nutty. Corn, candy corn, some rye spice and ginger. With water there is just as much orange, but it’s sweeter, less bitter. Vanilla and even some coconut. A full bodied mouthfeel that is oily and mouth coating. The finish is medium long with orange pith, vanilla, oak and very dry. I didn’t expect quite this much orange flavor from only 4 months in liqueur barrels, but here we are, in a proverbial orange grove holding a glass of bourbon with an orange twist. I can only see this as a once in a while type of dram as it’s just too strange to be an every day sipper. I’m happy to have tried it, but once is enough for me. A solid 4 though. Cheers

The orange definitely comes through. Almost too much so.