Fanged Pursuit Orphan Barrel
Overall Score: 8/10
Overall Value: 3.5/5
Distillery: Sourced from an undisclosed Kentucky distillery.
Classification: Straight Bourbon
Company: Diageo
Release Date: February 2025
Proof: 92
Age: 17 Years
Color: Dark Carmel
MSRP: $200 (2025)
Mashbill: 68-74% Corn, 18-22% Rye, 8-10% Malted Barley
The Barrel Bros’ Review
The nose of the Orphan Barrel Fanged Pursuit greets you with a dessert-forward profile layered with red fruits like cherry and strawberry, plus rich notes of butterscotch, marshmallow, and toasted caramel. We also got creme brûlée or browned butter, and subtle notes of peanut brittle and leather. For a 17-year-old bourbon, the oak remains surprisingly reserved—more of a background note that adds structure without dominating.
The palate is juicy, sweet, and shockingly flavorful for a 92 proof bourbon. Expect dark maraschino cherry, strawberry creme, and a soft wave of toasted sugar flavors. The oak becomes more prominent here than on the nose, but it remains well-balanced. The texture is smooth and rich, making this a standout pour that feels like it was made for slow sipping on special occasions. Just be sure to pause between sips to let the complexity shine.
The finish leans dry, with the oak asserting itself a bit more. Some of the fruitiness fades, replaced by hints of char, leather, and even a dry graham cracker note. Sweet flavors like marshmallow and butterscotch do reappear, but in a more subdued form. It’s a refined and lengthy finish, just a touch drier than expected.
This review of Orphan Barrel Fanged Pursuit confirms it's more than just a pretty bottle. It manages to pull off a rare balance of age and flavor, delivering vibrant fruit and confectionary notes without getting buried under 17 years of oak. While the MSRP is on the higher side, and sale price deals are rare, this bottle brings complexity worth the splurge—especially for fans of well-aged, sweet-leaning bourbons. A refined single release that proves Orphan Barrel still knows how to make a statement.
If you’re looking for specific notes from our Barrel Bros, read their individual reviews below!
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Individual Reviews
The Rye Guy Says
Score: 8/10
Value: 3/5
THE NOSE:
The nose presents sweet and rich like custard, creme brûlée, or browned butter.
I also get a bit of peanut brittle and strawberry red fruit.
It has an appropriate oakiness that stays subtle and adds to the complexity.
THE TASTE:
The mouthfeel is quite juicy, which I enjoy paired with a sweeter bourbon.
It does come off quite a bit oakier than the nose lead on, but it remains sweet.
Other than the oakiness, I primarily get a dark maraschino cherry profile.
THE FINISH:
The finish does bring a bit more dryness along with added oak.
I lose most of the fruitiness and develop more of a char profile.
It’s like a dry graham cracker.
BUY OR PASS?
This pour was very interesting. It is able to provide a lot of flavor for the proof point and also brings a depth and complexity due to the 17 year age statement.
The nose was the high point for me, along with the initial sip on the palate. The finish brought much more oakiness and dryness than I would prefer.
The Hunter Says
Score: 8/10
Value: 4/5
THE NOSE:
Sweet red fruits — strawberry and cherry, even a little creme.
It reminds me of an elevated 1792 small batch or Elmer T Lee nose. I also get toasted caramel, butterscotch, and marshmallows, which are my favorites.
For 17-years, I didn't get a ton of oak. It’s there, but very subtle, and it presents a bit of a leather profile.
THE TASTE:
Wow, just wow. Very sweet and feels amazing in the mouth.
Very fruity, specifically cherry. It definitely drinks like a special occasion pour, and at only 92 proof, I’m amazed how much flavor comes through.
I also don’t get an overpowering amount of oak. Though, while sipping this pour, it’s better to take some time between sips.
Let your palate reset so you can get the full experience.
THE FINISH:
This is where the oak comes through, but at a level that I can enjoy.
There is also all of the sweetness from the nose (butterscotch and marshmallow) that comes through, but slightly muted.
BUY OR PASS?
This is my first orphan barrel and I’m impressed. For 17-years, I was expecting all oak, but it was an excellent blend of fruit and sweetness (my favorites).
You can tell they know what they are doing with these batches. Definitely worth it if you’ve got the money to spend.
