Before looking up the details of the Orphan Barrel Entrapment I said to myself “Self, this smells and tastes like Crown Royal with some oak extract dumped in it”. Lo-and-behold I was right… about the Crown Royal part. The oak is because it’s two-and-a-half decades old.
In Orphan Barrel’s Words: Orphan Barrel Entrapment
“Distilled in 1992, Entrapment was originally due to be included in a batch of Crown Royal Deluxe, however the spirit never made it into the blend and has instead spent the last 25 years maturing at the the distillery in Gimli, Manitoba.
Entrapment is made of a mash of 97% corn and 3% malted barley giving the whisky aromas of “vanilla, toffee and a delicate toasted oak scent. Entrapment tastes light and creamy with hints of tobacco and walnut. The finish is warm with notes of dried fruits reminiscent of plums and raisins.”
According to the distillery: “These barrels aren’t necessarily forgotten, but instead not chosen for another blend, becoming almost hidden treasures.”
It definitely sounds interesting and I was pretty sure I’d see a raving review from Davin de Kergommeaux about it, but it looks like he hasn’t reviewed it. In fact, looking around the internet, it doesn’t seem like very many people have reviewed the Orphan Barrel Entrapment. Which is odd, but without any raving reviews what’s even more odd is the 2-3x MSRP price everyone is putting this whisky. The market is crazy folks.
Anyways, enough commentary – on to the orphan Barrel Entrapment review!
Orphan Barrel Entrapment Info
Region: Gimli, Canada
Distiller: Gimli
Bottler: Orphan Barrel
Blend: 97% Corn, 3% Malted Barley
Cask: Ex-Bourbon and others
Age: 25 Years
ABV: 41%
Batch: 0630
Price: $150*
Orphan Barrel Entrapment Review
EYE
Cola
NOSE
Butterscotch, oak, brown sugar, dried fruit, candy corn and a bit of spice. The butterscotch comes through intense and sweet… like most Canadian whiskies do.
PALATE
Cloying butterscotch, candy corn, vanilla, oak, dried fruit and a bit of spice. The butterscotch here comes through cloying and intense.
FINISH
Medium fade of butterscotch, oak, dried fruit and vanilla.
BALANCE, BODY & FEEL
Not balanced, medium body and a soft light feel.
OVERALL
Orphan Barrel Entrapment takes like Crown Royal with some oak extract added to it. If you’re a fan of Canadian whisky you’re probably going to like this, but if you’re not a fan then it’s probably going to hit you the way it’s hitting me. Aroma, palate and finish are an intense cloying wave of that butterscotch-heavy Canadian profile that is less Werther’s and more artificially flavored coffee syrup.
To back-track a wee bit, the aroma is better than the palate and the oak balances it out just a bit more. Not enough to right the ship, but enough to say the aroma is the best part of this whisky by a long shot. I’m not a huge fan of Canadian whisky in general and the Orphan Barrel Entrapment is no exception; it’s a style I’m just not a fan of, even it’s been aged for 25 years – so keep that in mind while reading this Orphan Barrel Entrapment review.
SCORE: 78/100 (C+)
*Disclosure: This Orphan Barrel Entrapment sample was graciously sent to me by the company for the purposes of this review. The views, opinions, and tasting notes are 100% my own.
