Rhetoric 21 YR
Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey
45.1% ABV (90.2 proof)
~$100 (sample provided)
This sample is from batch 0109-67. I really liked the earlier Lost Prophet release, but was less enthusiastic about the Forged Oak expression. Let's see where this lands.
Color: medium brown, slight orange tint.
Smell: initially this smells sweet and vibrant. Nosing this blind, I would guess this is a sweet 6-10 year old bourbon a la Blanton's. Vanilla, caramel, and red apple sweetness along with an accent of toasty oak. As it sits, it develops a vegetal mustiness - certainly strange, but not off-putting. Despite the 21 year age statement, there isn't any overwhelming oak influence, which is certainly surprising (and welcome!).Taste: balanced from the first sip. Floral and brown sugar sweetness upfront, but this is quickly complemented by cinnamon, leather, and oak on the transition to the midpalate. While there is a small punch of astringent lumber on the finish, the aftertaste is light, fruity, and sweet.
Overall: like it, but don't love it. "B" for me, but tough to recommend at the price point. It's impressive how vibrant and fresh this drinks considering its time in oak, but you can get similar smoothness for much less. It will be fun to see where this heads in the coming years as they continue to age their stocks, but this currently drinks like a much younger bourbon. Again, there's nothing to fault per se, but it's weird for a whiskey's packaging (and price point) to scream "21 years" while its flavor profile rivals that of an 6 year old bourbon that sat in stainless steel tanks for an extra 15 years.
