The Story
26 years. Sourced from the legendary Stitzel-Weller Distillery. The Old Blowhard — part of Diageo's Orphan Barrel project rescuing forgotten and exceptional aged bourbons.
The Orphan Barrel project was created by Diageo to bottle rare, aged American whiskeys that had been set aside, forgotten, or accumulated in distillery corners over decades — parcels too exceptional to leave unbottled and too small to release through standard channels. Old Blowhard is one of the flagship Orphan Barrel releases, sourced from Stitzel-Weller Distillery in Louisville — the historic facility founded by Pappy Van Winkle and one of the most storied addresses in American bourbon.
At 26 years in new American oak with a mashbill of 86% corn, 8% barley, and 6% rye, Old Blowhard represents the kind of extended aging that only Stitzel-Weller's heritage stocks make possible. The Solera System at the distillery preserves some of its oldest whiskey, and the 26 Year draws on that aging infrastructure for a bourbon that is rich with honeyed oak, vanilla beans, caramel, marzipan, and candied orange — complex and well-balanced in a way that very old bourbon rarely achieves.
Tasting Notes
- Appearance: Rich deep amber with warm mahogany tones from 26 years of barrel contact.
- Nose: Charcoal, honeyed oak, and vanilla beans.
- Palate: Caramel, marzipan, buttered toast, and candied oranges — complex and well-integrated despite the age.
- Finish: Smooth and oaky with a hint of sweetness and lingering notes of citrus and chocolate.
Specs
- Sourced from: Stitzel-Weller Distillery, Louisville, Kentucky
- Bottled by: Orphan Barrel (Diageo)
- Style: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
- Mashbill: 86% corn, 8% barley, 6% rye
- Age: 26 years
- Cask: New American oak
- Size: 750ml
Explore all Orphan Barrel expressions or browse all bourbon at Wooden Cork.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the Orphan Barrel project? Orphan Barrel is Diageo's program for rescuing and bottling rare, aged American whiskeys that have been set aside or forgotten in distillery warehouses. Each release is named, documented, and bottled in limited quantities. Old Blowhard at 26 years is one of the project's most age-forward bourbon releases.
- What is the Stitzel-Weller connection? Stitzel-Weller was founded by Pappy Van Winkle in 1935 and operated until 1992, producing the wheated bourbon that became the foundation of the Van Winkle legacy. Today the facility is used for aging by Diageo. Orphan Barrel Old Blowhard is one of the most direct ongoing connections to the distillery's heritage production.
- Why doesn't 26-year-old bourbon taste over-oaked? The mashbill's relatively low rye content (6%) and the Solera System's management of the aging process help maintain balance at this age. The candied fruit, marzipan, and citrus notes indicate that the bourbon has taken what the oak had to offer without crossing into astringency.
- Is Old Blowhard still being produced? No — the Orphan Barrel project bottles from specific discovered or heritage parcels. Once those parcels are exhausted, the expression ends. Old Blowhard is no longer in active production.
Description
26 years. Sourced from the legendary Stitzel-Weller Distillery. The Old Blowhard — part of Diageo's Orphan Barrel project rescuing forgotten and exceptional aged bourbons.
The Orphan Barrel project was created by Diageo to bottle rare, aged American whiskeys that had been set aside, forgotten, or accumulated in distillery corners over decades — parcels too exceptional to leave unbottled and too small to release through standard channels. Old Blowhard is one of the flagship Orphan Barrel releases, sourced from Stitzel-Weller Distillery in Louisville — the historic facility founded by Pappy Van Winkle and one of the most storied addresses in American bourbon.
At 26 years in new American oak with a mashbill of 86% corn, 8% barley, and 6% rye, Old Blowhard represents the kind of extended aging that only Stitzel-Weller's heritage stocks make possible. The Solera System at the distillery preserves some of its oldest whiskey, and the 26 Year draws on that aging infrastructure for a bourbon that is rich with honeyed oak, vanilla beans, caramel, marzipan, and candied orange — complex and well-balanced in a way that very old bourbon rarely achieves.
Tasting Notes
- Appearance: Rich deep amber with warm mahogany tones from 26 years of barrel contact.
- Nose: Charcoal, honeyed oak, and vanilla beans.
- Palate: Caramel, marzipan, buttered toast, and candied oranges — complex and well-integrated despite the age.
- Finish: Smooth and oaky with a hint of sweetness and lingering notes of citrus and chocolate.
Specs
- Sourced from: Stitzel-Weller Distillery, Louisville, Kentucky
- Bottled by: Orphan Barrel (Diageo)
- Style: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
- Mashbill: 86% corn, 8% barley, 6% rye
- Age: 26 years
- Cask: New American oak
- Size: 750ml
Explore all Orphan Barrel expressions or browse all bourbon at Wooden Cork.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the Orphan Barrel project? Orphan Barrel is Diageo's program for rescuing and bottling rare, aged American whiskeys that have been set aside or forgotten in distillery warehouses. Each release is named, documented, and bottled in limited quantities. Old Blowhard at 26 years is one of the project's most age-forward bourbon releases.
- What is the Stitzel-Weller connection? Stitzel-Weller was founded by Pappy Van Winkle in 1935 and operated until 1992, producing the wheated bourbon that became the foundation of the Van Winkle legacy. Today the facility is used for aging by Diageo. Orphan Barrel Old Blowhard is one of the most direct ongoing connections to the distillery's heritage production.
- Why doesn't 26-year-old bourbon taste over-oaked? The mashbill's relatively low rye content (6%) and the Solera System's management of the aging process help maintain balance at this age. The candied fruit, marzipan, and citrus notes indicate that the bourbon has taken what the oak had to offer without crossing into astringency.
- Is Old Blowhard still being produced? No — the Orphan Barrel project bottles from specific discovered or heritage parcels. Once those parcels are exhausted, the expression ends. Old Blowhard is no longer in active production.
