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Orphan Barrel Rhetoric 21

750mL

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Rhetoric 21 Year is the second release in Diageo's Orphan Barrel Rhetoric series, a Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey distilled at Bernheim and bottled at 90.2 proof after a full 21 years of aging. Following the debut of Rhetoric 20 Year in 2014, Diageo continued bottling portions of the same long-aging batch each year as it grew older, releasing Rhetoric 21 Year in 2015. The series let whiskey drinkers follow a single lot of bourbon as it matured further, watching how proof and flavor shifted with each additional year in the barrel. Like the rest of the series, Rhetoric 21 was distilled from a mash bill of 86% corn, 8% malted barley, and 6% rye and matured in Kentucky warehouses for more than two decades, well beyond typical bourbon aging, which concentrated the whiskey's oak tannin and dried-fruit character compared to the 20 Year release before it. Tasting Notes Nose: Leather, toasted oak, and dried fruit with a touch of vanilla and caramel. Palate: Black pepper and dark chocolate, with charred wood and a baking-spice warmth. Finish: Long and dry, with lingering oak and a faint cocoa note. Specs Distillery: Bernheim, Kentucky (Orphan Barrel Whiskey Distilling Co.) Style: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Mash Bill: 86% Corn, 8% Malted Barley, 6% Rye Age: 21 years Proof: 90.2 (45.1% ABV) Size: 750ml Release: 2015 Stop by Bansum Wine & Liquor in Patchogue to see our current lineup of Orphan Barrel releases. Frequently Asked Questions What is Orphan Barrel Rhetoric 21 Year? It's a 21-year-old Kentucky straight bourbon from Diageo's Orphan Barrel series, the second release in the Rhetoric progression, bottled at 90.2 proof. What proof is it? 90.2 proof, or 45.1% ABV, slightly higher than the 20 Year release before it. How does it compare to Rhetoric 20 Year? It comes from the same original batch aged one additional year, giving it a touch more oak intensity and a slightly higher proof than Rhetoric 20. Is it allocated or limited? Yes, each Rhetoric age statement was a limited, one-time bottling rather than a recurring annual release. How should I drink it? It's rich enough to enjoy neat, though a few drops of water can help open up the darker fruit and chocolate notes for some drinkers.