The first Rebel Yell Single Barrel I tried was a few months ago in St. Louis. I was there for a Luxco event where myself and a bunch of other whiskey writers were invited to join a tasting panel for the company. We were chosen to taste through a bunch of different bourbons, blind, and tell them which ones we liked, didn’t like and why. We never found out what we were tasting or why – we just gave them our opinions and then we all hung out and ate and drank.
After the tasting panel we had a nice dinner followed by cocktails and the opportunity to drink some of Luxco’s new whiskeys which included the David Nicholson Reserve, Blood Oath Pact 2 and this lovely little gem. I enjoyed the DNR, I really liked the BO2, but this… this Rebel Yell Single Barrel stole the show. I didn’t write down which barrel number it was that enamored me that night, but it was magnificent and quickly became the only thing I wanted to drink for the rest of the evening. This barrel is no slouch either.
Rebel Yell Single Barrel Info
Region: Kentucky, USA
Distiller: Heaven Hill
Bottler: Luxco
Mashbill: Corn, Wheat & Malted Barley
Cask: New Charred Oak
Age: 10 Years
ABV: 50%
Barrel: 4744359
Aged Since: 9/05
Price: $50*
Rebel Yell Single Barrel Review
EYE
Polished oak
NOSE
Oak, spice, complex dark sweets, cherry heavy dark fruit, vanilla whipped cream, blackberry licorice, oily nuts and light bit of salted brûlée. It’s a rich and complex bourbon aroma.
PALATE
Oak, chewy dark fruit, complex dark sweets, roasted nuts, vanilla and a touch of waxy licorice, spice and cocoa. This is the kind of thing I want to sip on while reading a good book with a dog on my lap.
FINISH
Long and filled with oak, caramel, vanilla, dark sweets, dark fruit and olde time candy.
BALANCE, BODY & FEEL
Great balance, round full body and a heavy silken feel.
OVERALL
Holy crap… I can’t believe this is Rebel Yell. Seriously this Rebel Yell Single Barrel is leaps and bounds better than the standard release and represents a new era for the brand in which it’s finally earning its name. This is a whiskey to make some noise about and I wish all Rebel Yell was this good. I understand why it can’t be, supply and demand and all that, but it doesn’t stop me from wishing.
The strong oaky backbone on the palate gives it a rustic, comforting, flavor that pairs nicely with the sweeter notes and gives the whole whiskey a great sense of balance. The same essence runs through the aroma and finish. It’s a whiskey I want to drink all the time and between this barrel and the one I tried in St. Louis I’m excited to try other barrels in the future to see how they compare. This Rebel Yell Single Barrel is a great representation of a well aged bourbon, definitely worth trying.
SCORE: 90/100 (A-)
*Disclosure: This Rebel Yell Single Barrel was graciously sent to me by the company for the purposes of this review. The views, opinions, and tasting notes are 100% my own.