The latest release of Diageo’s Orphan Barrel project has been shipped. Lost Prophet was distilled at the old George T. Stagg, now Buffalo Trace, distillery in 1991, making this release a 22 year old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. The mash bill is 75-78%corn, 7-11% barley, and 15% rye. It will retail at around $120.
This is the fourth release of Orphan Barrels by Diageo. There have been huge stores of bourbon aging at Stitzel-Weller even after the distillery closed. While these aren’t true orphans, they never made it to their intended use. Instead they sat aging until Diageo finally decided to do something with them.
The Orphan Barrel Project bourbons come from different distilleries, though many come from right down the road at New and Old Bernheim. Lost Prophet is the first release to be distilled at George T. Stagg.
According to the press release, “To-date, the Orphan Barrel Whiskey Distilling Company has released four variants – Barterhouse, Old Blowhard, Rhetoric and Lost Prophet. Orphan Barrel whiskeys will be sourced from wherever our team is able to find these forgotten, rare collections of beautiful whiskey. From Tennessee to Kentucky to Scotland and Ireland, we believe there is a treasure trove of liquid to be discovered and shared with true whiskey fans everywhere.” While the Orphan Barrel Project is focused solely on Kentucky Bourbon right now, this release hints at future releases of world whiskeys.
These bottles should be available at your local liquor store within the next few days, depending on when they receive their shipments. If you get a bottle, be sure to tweet a picture with the hashtag #OrphanBarrel!
Photos Courtesy of Maggie Kimberl