Orphan Barrel Whoop and Holler is the latest addition to the Orphan Barrel line and is billed as a 28-year-old American Whiskey, but unlike with some of the releases the company actually does disclose where this one came from – which is awesome. The Orphan Barrel Whiskey Distilling Company doesn’t actually distill anything they put out so the least they can do is tell us where the whiskey comes from, and with recent releases they are.
It’s nice to see more transparency and information come out about the whiskey that OB is putting out. It makes it more fun in my opinion to know what we’re drinking. It makes it easier to understand the history of what’s in your glass. Knowing that this is a 28-year-old George Dickel immediately had my interest piqued and after trying it next to the last remaining bit of my George Dickel 17 I’m happy to say… it’s a fine tasting dram, especially if you’re a fan of GD. The full details are in the Orphan Barrel Whoop and Holler review below!
Orphan Barrel Whoop and Holler Info
Region: Tennessee, USA
Distiller: George Dickel
Mashbill: 84% corn, 8% rye & 8% malted barley
Cask: New Charred Oak
Age: 28 Years
ABV: 43.%
Price: $175*
Orphan Barrel Whoop and Holler Review
EYE
Honey – it’s oddly light colored for being 28 years old. I’ve had 9-year-old single barrels that were darker…
NOSE
Corn, vanilla taffy, toffee, citric acid, oak and coca with light bits of biscuits, orchard fruit and fresh maple bars. This is lovely stuff and it has a crispness to it that surprises me. I thought for sure George Dickel would be overoaked as hell at 28 years and this is anything but.
PALATE
I could drink this all day every day and be a happy human. Caramel corn, vanilla taffy, citrus peels, pepper, biscuits, fruit and cocoa with bits of cinnamon, fresh maple bars, baking spice, oak and orchard fruit.
FINISH
Long fade of corn, caramel, vanilla, citrus, spice and fruit.
BALANCE, BODY & FEEL
Well balanced, round full body and a smooth crisp feel.
OVERALL
Yes please! If this Orphan Barrel Whoop and Holler wasn’t $175 a bottle I’d be thinking about buying a case. As it sits I’m definitely picking one up, but a second will be a tough purchase to justify. That said it’s incredibly good and if you’re a fan of George Dickel I think you’re really going to like this. It has that corn-driven sweetness that I love in the George Dickel 12 but with a bit more depth and oak-driven complexity.
In my estimation there isn’t much to dislike about the Orphan Barrel Whoop and Holler, but to be honest I do like the GD17 more. I think it hits that perfect balance of sweet and rustic that’s missing from the Orphan Barrel Whoop and Holler. Though all-in-all I’m completely surprised at how good this is and I’m exited to pick up a whole bottle to slowly explore as I sip my way through it. This is one bottle I won’t be sharing too much of.
SCORE: 92/100 (A-)
*Disclosure: This Orphan Barrel Whoop and Holler was graciously sent to me by the company for the purposes of this review. The views, opinions, and tasting notes are 100% my own.
