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There's a lot to be said for a sub-$20 bottle of American whiskey like Old Grand-Dad or Very Old Barton. But when it's time to invest in a $100+ bottle for special occasions, as I did today, I think I made a very solid choice with Orphan Barrel "Rhetoric" 24 years old. Text can't really convey just how nice this bourbon is. The nose is heavy on oak and leather, with vanilla just under those influences. On the palate, those persist, but aren't as dominant, adding up to a strong sense of dark chocolate and tobacco. It's beautiful as a sipper -- in fact, so much so that to adulterate it with anything other than a couple ice cubes would be tantamount to wasting your money. Just a beautiful bourbon, and though it's in the ~$150, it deserves every penny of its asking price.