‘Once it’s Gone, it’s Gone Forever’: Orphan Barrel’s Limited Release Bourbon Celebrates the Transitional Period Between Dusk and Night

Orphan Barrel’s latest release, Indigo’s Hour is an 18-year-old bourbon that celebrates the transitional period when dusk segues into night. (Photo: Miguel Buencamino @HolyCityHandicraft/Orphan Barrel)

Orphan Barrel unveiled the release of Indigo’s Hour, an 18-year-old bourbon whiskey with a suggested retail price of $225. The whiskey company that aims to rescue “nearly forgotten barrels” shared Indigo’s Hour is a limited-production bourbon celebrating the transitional period when dusk turns into night.

The Diageo-owned brand shared that the whiskey and its journey are represented through the bottle’s colorful label, which features a Pipevine Swallowtail butterfly. The butterfly is native to Indiana, which is where the bourbon was distilled from a mashbill of 68% corn, 28% rye and 4% malt.

After that, it aged for 18 years in charred white oak barrels in a facility a few minutes away from Louisville, Kentucky. Because of that, the bottle includes a depiction of one of Kentucky’s more distinctive landmarks, The Witches’ tree. Atlas Obscura reports that local lore claims the tree was a gathering spot for a coven of witches and locals regularly leave small offerings at the site to stay “on the witches’ good side.”

To illustrate where Indigo’s Hour was bottled, Orphan Barrel included depictions of landscapes in Cascade Hollow and Tullahoma, Tennessee, bringing the story behind the bourbon’s production process to a colorful illustrative close. Indigo’s Hour hosts an ABV of 45%.

Those interested in purchasing this limited release can pick up a bottle from ReserveBar.

Orphan Barrel claims that Indigo’s Hour “embodies the fleeting nature of exceptional liquid craftsmanship.” Orphan Barrel claims the whiskey inspired by this daily natural occurrence is exceedingly rare, and shares it is “made in only one highly-limited batch, and once it’s gone, it’s gone forever.

“Indigo’s Hour is perfect for those who appreciate the complex flavors and craft behind American-bourbon making,” Diageo’s Master Blender Andrew Mackay said in a statement from the brand. “Its liquid and bottle symbolizes how the Orphan Barrel collection continues to evolve from its predecessors, making it a true collectible for those who appreciate fine spirits and rare whiskies.”

Indigo’s Hour Tasting Notes, via Orphan Barrel

Aroma: Rich vanilla pods, with baking spices and red fruit.

Palate: Honey, caramel, with plenty of spice and vanilla throughout.

Finish: Velvety with a kiss of oak.

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