Orphan Barrel’s first rye whiskey features tattoo style labels

The vibrant label design pays homage to the history of Scarlet Shade whiskey

Orphan Barrel Whiskey, a project by Diageo to rescue nearly forgotten barrels of whiskey, has introduced its first rye release to its collection of premium whiskies – Orphan Barrel Scarlet Shade. The whiskey labels are inspired by flash tattoos as forever mementos and to serve as a reminder to all who cross its path that memories last forever. 

Since its inception, the Orphan Barrel Whiskey Co. has set out to find and share barrels of rare whiskey, nearly forgotten before being bottled for the world to try. 

Scarlet Shade, the rare 14-year-old Rye whiskey stocks, was blended by master blender, Samantha Johnson. Scarlet Shade crossed state lines from Indiana into Kentucky to age in new barrels of white oak for 14 years, ruminating on its forebears' pre-Prohibition glory days. The whiskey is bottled in Tennessee. 

Receiving a Gold Medal at this year's San Francisco Wine & Spirits Competition, this 14-year-old rye is heralded by sweet vanilla butter cream and lightly toasted oak aromas, tasting of warm baking spices, rye toast and orchard fruits, before warming into sweet orange marmalade and lingering as a dark chocolate finish. At 90 proof (45 percent), Rye fans can best enjoy Orphan Barrel Scarlet Shade neat or on the rocks.  

The vibrant label design pays homage to the history of Scarlet Shade. In the center, the cardinal – state bird of Indiana and Kentucky – is surrounded by Indiana's state flower, the peony, and perched on a skull to honor lost loved ones. With its flash tattoo-style label, Scarlet Shade serves as a reminder to all who cross its path that the best whiskey memories last forever.  

Orphan Barrel Scarlet Shade is a limited release. Beginning May 2023, the new variant will begin rolling out at select spirits retailers across the US with a suggested retail price of USD199.99.