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Prior to the opening of Lux Row's Kentucky distillery in 2018, Rebel was produced under contract by Heaven Hill. Lux Row is now owned by Midwest Grain Products as of 2021, but this barrel was filled on 3/23/2017, before they began production operations of their own in Bardstown. Rebel Yell (now shortened to "Rebel" after political pressures in 2020) was historically produced by Stitzel-Weller for distribution in the Southern United States and bears a signature wheat mash bill like many of the now scarce Weller products. Like Lux Row's Ezra Brooks brand, Rebel has a burgeoning barrel prick program which got a lot of attention from stores looking to up their store portfolios during the bourbon boom, and they have also started to put out distiller selections at cask strength as well.
🛒Sourced: $41.99 - 750ml - World of Beverage Smyrna, GA - Discounted as the last few bottles of a store pick, normally $55. I see distiller's selects of this around $55.
🧪Proof: 120 proof, 60% ABV - Another great example of how "Cask Strength" is not a regulated term. Barrel entry proof for Rebel is 125 and an I'm a bit confused by how many of these there are right at 120 proof. There are some other store picks as low as 113 proof and I have also seen near 130, but most are 120 on the nose.
🎨Color: R3.5 - Lighter than I expected, not crazily leggy
🥔Mash Bill: 68% Corn, 20% Wheat, 12% Barley. This is notably the same ratio mash used by Heaven Hill in Old Fitzgerald, though they may be using different yeasts, kettle durations, or temperatures.
No Age Statement. This bottle is from barrel number 7655761 which was filled on 3/23/2017. I cannot be sure when they dumped it, but most picks with ages stated by their stores are around the 5-year mark which seems reasonable given the color.
👃Nose: Gentle for the proof, slightly wood forward vanilla and butterscotch to round things out
😜Palate: Medium thickness on the tongue with a long blast of caramel and marshmallow that turns into a bit of a cookie flavor, complete with brown sugar and those semisweet baking chocolates. There is definitely a bit of wheat funk in the mid palate but it is not overwhelming.
💦Finish: Short with substantial throat and belly heat. The cookie yields to a tinge of strange minerality.
🏆 Overall: 5.5/10 - Good - Drinkable Neat - While it does hit the expected wheat sweetness, this Rebel Cask Strength store pick unfortunately lacks the creamy mouthfeel that high end wheaters provide. I enjoyed the marshmallow and cookie, but the minerality and shortness of the finish is intrusive. My mind naturally compares this to Larceny Barrel Proof and Maker's Cask, both of which outshine. Not entirely a disappointment, I'm happy to have tried it for the price I paid.
🧊Ice: This is one of the bottles above 115 proof that I don't think benefits much from Ice. The melt does cut some of the heat, but doesn't bring out any new flavors and starts to diminish the tenuous mouthfeel.
💵Would buy again? Yes, though it would be to try the distillate now produced by Lux Row themselves. I would also be targeting an older barrel. This one was promising; I think in a few years it would have been magnificent. Would I buy THIS particular bottle again? No.
⚖️Rating Scale:
2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume it by choice.
3 | Bad | Multiple flaws | Struggle to get through the bottle
4 | Serviceable | Mixing or ice recommended.
5 | Good | Drinkable Neat | An agreeable dram indeed.
6 | Very Good | Any flaws offset by interesting flavors | A cut above.
7 | Great | You find yourself reaching for this one often | Well above average.
8 | Excellent | Serve to Impress Guests | Really quite exceptional.
9 | Incredible | An all time favorite | You guard this bottle jealously.
10 | Perfect | You didn't think anything could be this good | A clear champion.