Orphan Barrel Barterhouse 20 Year Old Bourbon Whiskey

Orphan Barrel Barterhouse 20 Year Old Bourbon Whiskey is a 90.2-proof (45.1% ABV) Kentucky straight bourbon with one of the great discovery stories in American whiskey — distilled at the New Bernheim Distillery in Louisville and aged a full 20 years in the historic warehouses of the shuttered Stitzel-Weller Distillery, in a 750mL bottle. Released in 2014 as the inaugural bottling of Diageo's Orphan Barrel Whiskey Project, it comes from a "forgotten" cache of barrels found aging in Stitzel-Weller's rickhouses — orphaned whiskey, rescued and bottled at its peak. One-time-only: when it's gone, it's gone. It is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.

• Proof / ABV: 90.2 proof (45.1% ABV)
• Size: 750mL
• Age: 20 years
• Mash bill: 86% corn, 8% malted barley, 6% rye (high-corn, low-rye)
• Provenance: Distilled at New Bernheim (Louisville, KY); aged at Stitzel-Weller (Shively, KY); bottled in Tullahoma, TN
• Release: 2014 inaugural Orphan Barrel Whiskey Project release — one-time only

Rescued From the Rickhouse

The Orphan Barrel project exists for barrels like these: whiskey distilled at New Bernheim, moved into Stitzel-Weller's warehouses, and then simply... left. Twenty years later, Diageo found the cache and released it as Barterhouse — the first-ever Orphan Barrel bottling and the one that defined the series. Two decades in new charred American oak gives it a profile of deep char, old oak, and sweet counterpoints that only time builds. Explore the Orphan Barrel collection and more bourbon whiskey at Del Mesa.

Tasting Notes

Retailer and review consensus: the nose is deeply charred oak with varnish and old-oak depth. The palate shows sweet undertones of caramel, marzipan, and candied orange peel against the oak. The finish is long and slightly dry, with charred oak and light caramel.

How to Enjoy

Neat, in a Glencairn — this is a 20-year-old bourbon and it deserves the slow pour. A few drops of water open the marzipan and candied-orange notes. Save it for the end of the evening.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Orphan Barrel Barterhouse?
The inaugural 2014 release of Diageo's Orphan Barrel Whiskey Project — 20-year-old Kentucky straight bourbon distilled at New Bernheim and aged in Stitzel-Weller's warehouses.

Is Barterhouse still available?
It was a one-time-only release — remaining bottles are the last of it.

What is the proof of Barterhouse 20 Year?
90.2 proof (45.1% ABV) in a 750mL bottle.

Find Orphan Barrel Barterhouse 20 Year Old at Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA — order online while this one-time release lasts.