{"product_id":"orphan-barrel-barterhouse-20-year-old-kentucky-straight-bourbon","title":"Orphan Barrel Barterhouse 20 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e20 years. Distilled at the legendary Stitzel-Weller Distillery in Louisville, Kentucky. Mash bill of 86% corn, 8% barley, and 6% rye — the distinctively low-rye Stitzel-Weller recipe. 45.1% ABV. Orphan Barrel's inaugural flagship release.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp\u003eStitzel-Weller Distillery was one of the most revered facilities in American bourbon history. Founded by Pappy Van Winkle and associates in 1935, it operated until 1992, producing bourbon under the Van Winkle, Old Fitzgerald, W.L. Weller, and Rebel Yell labels. Stitzel-Weller's signature was a low-rye, high-barley mash bill that produced a uniquely rich, wheated-adjacent bourbon character — different from both standard wheated bourbon and high-rye recipes. Barrels from the closed Stitzel-Weller facility were scattered across Louisville warehouses in the 1990s, largely forgotten until Diageo's Orphan Barrel program uncovered them.\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp\u003eBarterhouse was the inaugural release of Orphan Barrel in 2014 — Diageo's project to find and bottle rare aged whiskeys languishing in the backs of rickhouses. At 20 years, the Stitzel-Weller distillate has developed the characteristic deep honey, caramel, and aged oak complexity of extended Stitzel-Weller maturation. The charcoal and honeyed oak nose is immediately distinctive; the marzipan and candied orange palate reflects the Stitzel-Weller recipe's unusual barley-forward grain character.\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003ch3\u003eTasting Notes\u003c\/h3\u003e \u003cul\u003e   \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eNose:\u003c\/strong\u003e Charcoal, honeyed oak, and vanilla beans — the distinctive Stitzel-Weller character immediately apparent.\u003c\/li\u003e   \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003ePalate:\u003c\/strong\u003e Caramel, marzipan, buttered toast, and candied oranges — the high-barley mash bill producing an unusually rich and complex mid-palate.\u003c\/li\u003e   \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eFinish:\u003c\/strong\u003e Oaky and slightly sweet with a touch of citrus and chocolate at the finale.\u003c\/li\u003e \u003c\/ul\u003e  \u003ch3\u003eSpecs\u003c\/h3\u003e \u003cul\u003e   \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eDistillery:\u003c\/strong\u003e Stitzel-Weller, Louisville, Kentucky (closed 1992)\u003c\/li\u003e   \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eBottled by:\u003c\/strong\u003e Orphan Barrel (Diageo)\u003c\/li\u003e   \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eStyle:\u003c\/strong\u003e Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey\u003c\/li\u003e   \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eMash bill:\u003c\/strong\u003e 86% corn, 8% barley, 6% rye\u003c\/li\u003e   \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eAge:\u003c\/strong\u003e 20 years\u003c\/li\u003e   \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eABV:\u003c\/strong\u003e 45.1% (90.2 proof)\u003c\/li\u003e   \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eRelease:\u003c\/strong\u003e Orphan Barrel inaugural flagship (2014)\u003c\/li\u003e   \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e 750ml\u003c\/li\u003e \u003c\/ul\u003e  \u003cp\u003eExplore all \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/woodencork.com\/collections\/orphan-barrel\"\u003eOrphan Barrel expressions\u003c\/a\u003e or browse all \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/woodencork.com\/collections\/bourbon\"\u003ebourbon at Wooden Cork\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003ch3\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h3\u003e \u003cul\u003e   \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eWhat was Stitzel-Weller Distillery?\u003c\/strong\u003e Stitzel-Weller was founded in 1935 by Pappy Van Winkle and associates and operated until 1992, producing Van Winkle, Old Fitzgerald, W.L. Weller, and Rebel Yell. Its low-rye, high-barley mash bill produced a uniquely rich bourbon character. When it closed, its remaining barrels were distributed to storage warehouses where Diageo eventually found them for the Orphan Barrel program.\u003c\/li\u003e   \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eWhat makes the Stitzel-Weller mash bill unusual?\u003c\/strong\u003e The Stitzel-Weller recipe uses 8% barley — unusually high for bourbon — alongside only 6% rye. Most bourbon uses 5% or less barley. The higher barley content contributes to the marzipan, nutty, and slightly earthy character distinctive to Stitzel-Weller productions.\u003c\/li\u003e   \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eWas Barterhouse the first Orphan Barrel release?\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes — Barterhouse was the inaugural release of Orphan Barrel in 2014, establishing the project's identity as a program to rescue and bottle forgotten aged stocks. It set the template for subsequent Orphan Barrel releases including Rhetoric, Old Blowhard, and others.\u003c\/li\u003e   \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eIs Barterhouse still available?\u003c\/strong\u003e In limited quantities through specialty retailers with legacy stock. As Stitzel-Weller closed in 1992, no new Stitzel-Weller stock is being created.\u003c\/li\u003e \u003c\/ul\u003e  \u003cscript type=\"application\/ld+json\"\u003e {   \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",   \"@type\": \"FAQPage\",   \"mainEntity\": [     { \"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"What was Stitzel-Weller Distillery?\", \"acceptedAnswer\": { \"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"Founded in 1935 by Pappy Van Winkle, Stitzel-Weller operated until 1992 producing Van Winkle, Old Fitzgerald, W.L. Weller, and Rebel Yell. Its low-rye, high-barley mash bill produced a uniquely rich bourbon character.\" } },     { \"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"What makes the Stitzel-Weller mash bill unusual?\", \"acceptedAnswer\": { \"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"8% barley \\u2014 unusually high for bourbon \\u2014 alongside only 6% rye. The higher barley contributes to the marzipan, nutty, and earthy character distinctive to Stitzel-Weller productions.\" } },     { \"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"Was Barterhouse the first Orphan Barrel release?\", \"acceptedAnswer\": { \"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"Yes \\u2014 Barterhouse was the inaugural 2014 Orphan Barrel release, setting the template for subsequent programs including Rhetoric and Old Blowhard.\" } },     { \"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"Is Barterhouse still available?\", \"acceptedAnswer\": { \"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"In limited quantities through specialty retailers. As Stitzel-Weller closed in 1992, no new Stitzel-Weller stock is being created.\" } }   ] } \u003c\/script\u003e","brand":"Orphan Barrel","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42900648067143,"sku":"Scott","price":599.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0687\/0640\/2375\/files\/barterhouse_kentucky_bourbon_whiskey_bottle_720x_5e97440e-baa9-4e5b-92b3-e9caa2e6cd98.jpg?v=1782412833","url":"https:\/\/bourbonnest.com\/products\/orphan-barrel-barterhouse-20-year-old-kentucky-straight-bourbon","provider":"Bourbon Nest","version":"1.0","type":"link"}