Orphan Barrel is a Diageo-owned label that releases bottlings of “forgotten” whiskeys. Entrapment, a Canadian whisky, is the first non-American release from this brand. This whisky was originally destined to become Crown Royal, but somehow didn’t end up in the blend, and instead sat in the barrel for a full 25 years before being hauled down to Tullahoma, Tennessee for bottling.
The whiskey is described as “97% corn and 3% [malt]” and is the eleventh release in this particular Diageo line up. My sample came in a cute wooden book safe, complete with what seems to be a working compass. The inside of the “book jacket” reads:
“Crafted in the heart of the Manitoba wilderness, Entrapment captures the promise of adventure and freedom. Entrapment, a jack of all trades, makes its mark but leaves no trace behind.”
The suggested retail price for this whisky is an eye-popping $150.
Tasting Notes: Orphan Barrel Entrapment
Vital stats: Canadian whisky, 97% corn/3% malt, aged 25 years, 41% ABV
Color: Pale copper
Nose: Butterscotch, faint spice, maple donut, confectioner’s sugar. Like other Canadian whiskies, this one mostly smells overwhelmingly sweet to me.
Palate: More butterscotch, syrup, and brown sugar, with a heavy dose of oak. There’s a flash of cherry cough syrup on the back of the palate, and the finish sits somewhere between bitter and medicinal. Texturally, it’s both light and faintly drying.