Orphan Barrel Whoop and Holler Bourbon 28 Year 750ML

Orphan Barrel Whoop and Holler Bourbon 28 Year 750ML is a 28-year-old Kentucky-style bourbon aged at the George Dickel distillery in Tullahoma, Tennessee, bottled at 84 proof (42% ABV). At the time of its release, this was one of the oldest age-stated American whiskeys ever brought to market, earning a 92/100 from Josh Peters at The Whiskey Jug.

Quick Facts: ABV: 42% (84 proof)  |  Origin: Tullahoma, Tennessee, USA  |  Age: 28 Years  |  Distillery: George Dickel (Diageo)

Production & Heritage

The Orphan Barrel project, owned by Diageo, was launched to uncover forgotten barrels of exceptionally aged whiskey languishing in rickhouses across America. Whoop and Holler stands as the oldest expression in the Orphan Barrel lineup, drawn from barrels that spent nearly three decades maturing at the George Dickel distillery in Tullahoma, Tennessee. The mashbill of 84% corn, 8% rye, and 8% malted barley underwent the Lincoln County Process — a sugar maple charcoal filtration unique to Tennessee whiskey production — before entering new charred oak barrels for its extraordinary 28-year rest. At that age, the interaction between spirit and wood is extreme, producing a whiskey dominated by deep oak character balanced by residual sweetness that survived decades of evaporation.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Brown sugar and honey arrive first, layered with vanilla and clove. A distinctive straw-like grassy quality emerges underneath, adding complexity to the aged sweetness.

Taste: The entry is surprisingly sweet — corn candy and butterscotch — before heavy oak asserts itself at mid-palate. Ripe banana, raisins, and bubblegum mingle with dark chocolate and sweet toffee. Dried apricots and dark cherries develop as the whiskey opens, balanced by clove spice and black pepper.

Finish: Long, warm, and layered, with sweet oak, tobacco leaf, and gentle baking spice lingering well after each sip. The 84-proof bottling strength keeps the finish approachable despite the considerable age.

How to Drink Whoop and Holler

A whiskey of this age and rarity is best appreciated neat, at room temperature, in a Glencairn or tulip-shaped glass. A few drops of water can help unlock additional aromatics from the deeply oaked spirit. Given its scarcity and collector status, mixing is uncommon, but the intense oak and toffee profile would stand up admirably in an Old Fashioned with a single sugar cube and orange peel, a Boulevardier where the oak depth matches sweet vermouth's richness, or a Vieux Carré where the aged complexity mirrors the cocktail's layered structure.

Best For

• Collecting rare and discontinued American whiskey releases
• Gifting a serious bourbon enthusiast or whiskey historian
• Marking a milestone anniversary or retirement celebration
• Side-by-side tastings comparing ultra-aged American whiskeys

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Whoop and Holler taste like? Whoop and Holler delivers heavy oak influence tempered by corn candy sweetness, butterscotch, dark chocolate, and dried fruit. The 28 years in barrel produce a deeply woody whiskey with unexpected layers of toffee, ripe banana, and tobacco on the finish.

How does Whoop and Holler compare to Old Blowhard? Old Blowhard, the 26-year-old expression in the Orphan Barrel series, shares a similarly oak-forward character but is two years younger and was distilled at the Bernheim distillery in Louisville rather than George Dickel. Whoop and Holler's additional aging and Lincoln County Process filtration give it a distinct Tennessee character with slightly more wood dominance and dried fruit complexity.

Is Whoop and Holler good for sipping neat? Absolutely — at 84 proof, the bottling strength is deliberately gentle for a whiskey of this age, making it very approachable neat. The lower proof allows the nuanced aged flavors to come through without excessive alcohol heat.

Where is Whoop and Holler made? Whoop and Holler was distilled and aged at the George Dickel distillery in Tullahoma, Tennessee, a facility in the hills of Coffee County that has been producing whiskey since the 1870s. It was released under Diageo's Orphan Barrel program, which sources forgotten barrels from various American distilleries.

What foods pair well with Whoop and Holler? Dark chocolate truffles complement the whiskey's cocoa and toffee notes. Pecan pie echoes the deep caramel and nutty oak character. Aged sharp cheddar provides a savory counterpoint to the sweetness. Smoked brisket mirrors the tobacco and wood tones. Dried apricots and cherries reinforce the fruit notes already present in the whiskey.

What sizes does Whoop and Holler come in? Whoop and Holler was released in the standard 750ml bottle size, consistent with other Orphan Barrel expressions.

Is Whoop and Holler worth the price? Whoop and Holler positions as an ultra-premium, limited-release collector's bourbon — one of the oldest age-stated American whiskeys available at its time of release. Its value reflects extreme rarity and the cost of warehousing spirit for nearly three decades, making it a category outlier rather than an everyday sipper.

Why Whoop and Holler?

At 28 years old, Whoop and Holler represented a previously unheard-of age statement for American whiskey when it arrived on shelves. That alone makes it a landmark release in bourbon history, regardless of where individual critics landed on their scorecards — Josh Peters at The Whiskey Jug rated it 92/100, while Fred Minnick scored it 79 points in Whisky Advocate, illustrating how polarizing ultra-aged bourbon can be. The Lincoln County Process filtration, combined with nearly three decades in new charred oak, creates a profile unlike any standard bourbon or Tennessee whiskey on the market. For collectors and enthusiasts who want to taste what happens when American whiskey pushes the boundaries of age, this discontinued expression remains one of the most significant bottles the Orphan Barrel program ever released.