What a nice bourbon to open up a post-work, day-drinking session. When working the graveyard shift you have to adjust your Happy Hour to a more appropriate time: 9-11am. Sadly, no bars around my town understand that, so I have to take matters into my own hands. A big thanks to Ryan for saving me a sample of this elusive whiskey. This is the third Orphan Barrel whiskey I've had the pleasure of trying and I've got say right up front- they were all good, but this one is damn fine. It's spent a measly 22 years in the oak (measly by Scotch standards, lol). It's a deep copper color and smells heavily of oak and vanilla. On the tongue, it's quite oily and very woodsy. The rye is really tamed well by the barrel notes and the long rest has smoothed this thing out wonderfully. The flavor isn't muted at all it's just heavy oak, vanilla and rye. Typical rye whiskey, just very velvety and delicious. The finish is long, warm and a bit spicy. I'm not a big bourbon guy, especially rye whiskey, but I feel like this one is well worth the hefty price tag. If you buy one, though, don't put it away in your closet- drink it. Fantastic juice. 4.5 stars. Cheers, my friends