Redemption Barrel Proof Bourbon is a 9 -year-old, barrel proof / cask strength, release of MGP’s standard bourbon recipe. It’s their “low-rye” bourbon, which is still pretty darn high when you consider that most major bourbons clock in around 8-16% rye (roughly). So despite being their “low-rye” recipe it’s still sitting up there with the classic high-rye bourbons like Four Roses and Wild Turkey.
Before we jump into the Redemption Barrel Proof Bourbon review I would like to take quick second and say that It’s nice to see a company that sources its whiskey just flat out state it. Redemption puts it on the labels (distilled in Indiana) and on their web site they name MGP directly. This hasn’t affected their ability to sell whiskey because instead of wasting their time on useless, made-up, stories they focus on sourcing good whiskey and that’s exactly what MGP makes; good whiskey.
Redemption Barrel Proof Bourbon Info
Region: Indiana, USA
Distiller: MGP
Bottler: Redemption
Mashbill: 75% Corn, 21% Rye and 4% Malted Barley
Cask: new-charred oak
Age: 9 Years
ABV: 55.3%
Cask Strength | Non-Chill Filtered | Natural Color
Price: $100
Redemption Barrel Proof Bourbon Review
EYE
Caramel
NOSE
Notes of oak, caramel, mineral water, anise, dilly spice, orange peels and a light bit of cocoa. Water brings out subtle notes of chocolate covered cherries, buttery shortbread and overall it gets a bit oilier.
PALATE
Caramel, black licorice, oak, spice, dark fruit, nuts, orange peels and cocoa. The mineral nature is lighter on the palate and water brings out notes of chocolate covered cherries and an herbal, rosemary-like, character.
FINISH
Medium fade of spice, oak and an herbal nature.
BALANCE, BODY & FEEL
Has an ok balance – a tad spice heavy, medium body and an oily feel.
OVERALL
Redemption Barrel Proof Bourbon is a warm spice driven bourbon with a lot of character and an oily feel. Water helps open it up a bit and some nice notes of herbs and chocolate covered cherries come out to play; water also kicks up the spice even more.
It’s rich and complex, but it isn’t fully balanced and if you’ve been a regular reader you’ll know that’s one of the main aspects I look for in a whiskey. In my scoring Balance, Body & Feel is worth a full 1/4 of the points. In a nutshell, the Redemption Barrel Proof Bourbon is a tasty burly bourbon that clocks in at 9 years and 110.6 proof. It’s a serious MGP bourbon.
SCORE: 89/100 (B+)
*Disclosure: This Redemption Barrel Proof Bourbon was graciously sent to me by the company for the purposes of this review. The views, opinions, and tasting notes are 100% my own.