Remus Repeal Reserve Bourbon Series VIII

 

The newest batch of Remus Repeal Reserve is hitting shelves now and there's a lot to be excited about with this Series VIII release.  Master Distiller Ian Stirsman made some changes by blind tasting this and ultimately deciding on 101 proof and by also using a higher proportion of high rye recipe bourbon than in previous releases.  While some Remus Repeal Reserve releases have had more components in the final blend, the ten-to-seventeen year old aged bourbons really fire on all cylinders and have created a fantastic pour.

Series VIII is comprised of 9% 2007 bourbon (21% rye), 24% 2014 bourbon (21% rye) and 67% 2014 bourbon (36% rye).  The older bourbon definitely shows it hand in this expression, displaying aromas of cherry syrup, fine bound book leather, roasted nuts, vanilla and overly ripe plums.  It is mouth-watering and immediately eye-opening and it is reminiscent of your dad's bourbon that he purchased twenty years ago and occasionally sipped on when mom was away.

The initial taste offered elements of cherry cordial, light mocha beans, dried fruits, baking spice and light pepper.  Very silky on the palate and easy to approach for another sip..... and another.  It's sweet but stays in check by the pepper and oaky balance that rounds out the finish.  This is an fine example of the art of blending, tasting, testing and presenting the best effort of that work.  The Remus Repeal Reserve series has been increasingly popular over the years and this is a testament to why you need to try to find this for your home bar!

ABV:  50.5% (101 proof)

Distillery:  Ross & Squibb 

Suggested retail price:  $99.99

Drink The Bottles score:  93/100

Redemption Sur Lee Straight Rye Whiskey

 

One thing you know about us is that we love unique.  And since Jeff has been heavily involved in wine for so many years, this whiskey caught his attention.  To our knowlege, this is the first whiskey aged in the "sur lie" method, or at least the only one currently on the market.  This method of aging wine (and now spirits for this example) was introduced by the French to incorporate more complex flavors and aromas to the product.  Let's take a look at this bottle and see how this process faired for the Redemption Sur Lee Straight Rye Whiskey.

The first thing we noticed is how Redemption knocked it out of the park with the label and packaging.  While some may find the label too busy, we really like how the label explains the entire process from mashing to enjoying a glass of this straight rye whiskey.  Education is a big part of this bottle as it is isolated from everything else on the market.  The 95% rye and 5% mash bill, non-chill filtered three year whiskey drinks more like a 5-6 year due to the "sur lie" method and periodic rolling of the barrels.  

Hazy golden color, similar of a sultry summer sunset right before it disappears over the horizon.  We weren't expecting a heavily roasted marshmallow aroma, but it was instantly mouth-watering.  Dry straw, evergreen needles, and caramel chews also made an appearance.  This is incredibly viscous and if that's your thing, you're going to savor this whiskey!  Light brown sugar, orange marmalade, sweet grain and hints of star anise on the palate led to a really nice push of rye with medium heat on the finish.  The mouthfeel is what really stood out to us as far as uniqueness of this bottle.  The "on the lees" method of aging created the viscosity but time and subsequent batches of this whiskey will tell whether or not sur lie aging added enough flavor for the distillery to abandon the practice.  Either way, we really enjoyed this one and hope you do too!

ABV:  47.0% (94 proof)

Distillery:  MGP for Redemption

Suggested retail price:  $60.00

Drink The Bottles score:  90/100

Still Austin Whiskey Company - Cask Strength Bourbon and Rye Whiskeys

 

If you've been following the whiskey world for any period of time, you no doubt have heard the phrases "grain to glass" and "craft distillery".  For whiskey enthusiasts, these phrases have a cult-like following as many view the grain to glass designation as the best and only way to truly make whiskey and appreciate the craft involved, beginning to end.  While we know that not every distillery has the ability to make this their practice, we certainly appreciate keeping everything in-house when possible.  To us, it often improves the quality and overall production of the spirits.

Still Austin Whiskey Company was the brain child of recent retiree Cleveland Seals and he sought the help of his son Chris to explore the reality of whether or not to open a distillery.  The pair drew closer, spent a ton of time together, drank a lot of whiskey, had deep conversations and eventually arrived to the decision that the Texas hill country needed a distillery.. But not just any distillery.  They wanted to craft a product that was completely representative of the area, with local sourced grains and the ability to oversee what goes into every bottle from start to finish.  

We had the opportunity to explore two of Still Austin's cask strength offerings - their bourbon and their rye whiskey.  The bourbon has a minimum of a 2 year age statement while the rye isn't disclosed just yet.  For you whiskey snobs, you've probably already clicked off of this article after reading the previous sentence.  But if you were patient and openminded enough to stick around, let us just say this:  color.   Look at the color.  Do these bottles look like they've been sitting in char #3 barrels for only 2 years?  Nope.  That's the beauty of the hill country weather.  The fluctuations, going from one extreme to another, really give the barrels a work out and many people argue that the whiskey tends to age in half the time as many other parts of the country.  Let's take a look!

The Still Austin Cask Strength Bourbon Whiskey is an enchanting, pecan-colored whiskey featuring an eye-catching label of "The Musician", created by Austin artist Marc Burkhardt.  Burkhardt creates all of the original label which adds to the appeal.  The mash bill contains Texas grains consisting of white corn (70%), rye (25%) and malted barley (5%).  First aromas feel like we are in grandma's kitchen as she whips up some homemade biscuits with fresh blackberry jam.  There's a lovely minty and sweetness that arrives after some time out of the bottle and in the glass.  On the palate we noticed reduced brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, ripe stone fruits and mint.  The finish was very warm and the mint really came through.  Thoroughly impressed with this.  Still Austin's first bottle release of any spirit was in 2020 during the height of Covid.  We really hope they are keeping some barrels in storage as we would love to see what a 6, 8 or 10 year Still Austin would taste like (assuming the Angel's Share wouldn't grab all of the liquid!).

ABV:  59.0% (118 proof)

Distillery:  Still Austin Whiskey

Suggested retail price:  $60.00

Drink The Bottles score:  94/100

The Still Austin Cask Strength Rye Whiskey is an inviting hickory-colored and aromatic whiskey that is mouth-watering and beautiful.  Made from 100% Texas rye, this is a blend of the best-of-the-best rye barrels from Master Blender Nancy Fraley.  If you know the name, you know her work and there were not shortcuts here.  This is beautiful.  Berry pie, cinnamon and tropical fruits on the nose.  Mint, pencil shavings, lemon meringue, whip creeme and almond cookies with plenty of spice on the tongue.  There is a hint of mint and apricots on the very long and satisfying finish.  Rye fans, you'll want to get your hands on this!

ABV:  58.0% (116 proof)

Distillery:  Still Austin Whiskey

Suggested retail price:  $65.00

Drink The Bottles score:  93/100

Iowa Legendary Rye Gold Label Whiskey

 

In the midwest sits a small town of under 11,000 people, producing their self-proclaimed #1 Rye Whiskey in the World.  Carroll, Iowa is home to Iowa Legendary Rye Distillery, where they create pre-Prohibition rye whiskey using a bootlegger's recipe and cooking up trouble in 26-gallon pot stills.  They age their craft in small, 15 gallon casks, always using all-natural ingredients and doing things the old fashioned way, or in their opinion....... the right way.

This is the gold label is a fine example of a family owned secret that was finally and reluctantly passed down from Grandma Lorine Sextro.  Now that recipe lives in Iowa Legendary Rye and boy, were we in for a treat!  This small batch rye is a hand picked tri-barrel blend.  The team strives for excellence by using new barrels, barrels with experience and double distilled double barrels to create a spirit that is not only unique, but memorable.  And that's exactly what you're getting here.

Medium clover honey in color, this initially opens up with baked cinnamon apples, baking spices and just the right amount of heat from white pepper.  You know you're in good hands with experience rye distillers when their product doesn't punch you in the nose, but rather "introduces you" to what comes next.  The aromas switch to a spring meadow with fresh wild grasses and we were extremely intrigued.  On the palate was mild pepper up front with stone fruits, nutmeg and cinnamon.  The peppery notes were mild but stayed with us until the satisfying finish that made us want to pour another glass.  

Who would have thought that Iowa would be producing absolutely incredible rye whiskey?  This one is different.  This one hits just right.  This is one you need to seek and taste for yourself!

Check out our YouTube video on this bottle!

ABV:  51.5% (103 proof)

Distillery:  Iowa Legendary Rye

Suggested retail price:  $100.00

Drink The Bottles score:  93/100

2024 Yellowstone Limited Edition Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

 

Hold on to your hats for this one, folks!   This is the 2024 Yellowstone Limited Edition Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey.  This creation is a blend of seven and seventeen year Kentucky bourbons from Master Distiller Stephen Beam and it is tracking to become one of our favorite limited-edition releases of the year!  

We visited this bottle on three separate occasions - a "pop and pour" (see video below), a more formal tasting the next day, and a re-visit about 10 days later - all neat and all from a Glencairn.  As we describe in the video link below, we know that most folks buy a bottle and then go home and immediately taste it right away.  We knew there was something very special about this bottle which is why we tasted it multiple times and the results were so varied and incredible.

Our first impression (remember, pop-and pour) was an inviting, dusty funkness that was reminiscent of a box of old baseball cards and a sweet cigar wrapper.  There was a sweetness to the aromas that carried over to the taste from begining to end.  Subsequents tastes brought stone fruits, rhubarb, cherry cola, brown sugar, maple candy, saddle leather and honey.   There is so much going on here.  We would love to gather a group of 10 folks to taste this and we honestly think those ten people would come up with over 100 taste descriptors for this bottle.  Presented with a reddish-amber color, this 101 proof stunner is dialed in, allowing for a mouth-coating and satisfying finish.  We used adjectives like "fantastic" and "phenomenal" for this bottle.  It's incredibly special!

Our initial thoughts via our YouTube channel

ABV:  50.5% ABV (101 proof)

Distillery:  Limestone Branch Distillery for Yellowstone Bourbon

Suggested retail price:  $99.99

Drink The Bottles score:  96/100

Wise Men Distillery Bottled In Bond Bourbon

 

Three friends - Tom, Jason and Zack - had a dream like so many spirit enthusiasts do.  They wanted to create a product that they could not only call their own, but own it from beginning to end.  A 100 gallon still helped them realize this dream, allowing them to create a line of flavored moonshines, gin, vodka, award-winning rum and now whiskey and bourbon in small batches.

This is the Wise Men Distillery Bottled in Bond Bourbon out of Grand Rapids, Michigan.  Most of you know the requirements for a bourbon to be labeled "bottled in bond", but if you're new here, we're going to share that with you.  For a whiksey to be labeled Bottled in Bond (or better known as the acronym BiB), it must meet the following:

• The whiskey must be produced during a single distilling season (January - June) or (July - December) and it must be made from a single distiller at a single distillery.
• The whiskey must be aged for a minimum of 4 years in a federally bonded warehouse under U.S. government supervision.
• The whiskey must be bottled at exactly 100 proof, or 50% ABV.
• The bottle label must clearly identify the distillery where the whiskey was distilled and, if different, where it was bottled.  The label must also include the Distilled Spirits Plant (DSP) number.

So, if making distilled spirits didn't require a ton of laws and red tape to begin with, it always impresses us when any distillery of this size puts for the effort to create a BiB selection.  It's an "easy" undertaking for the behemoth distilleries, but more of a challenge for the craft distillers.

This bottle has a medium chestnut color and isn't your typical 4 year bourbon offering.  Great fall forest aromas with inviting butterscotch and dried fig candies.   In the mouth is a satisfying and surpirising basket of dried spices, toasted mixed nuts, orange liqueur and caramel syrup, all creating a very palatable finish.  Well done!

ABV:  50.0% (100 proof)

Distillery:  Wise Men Distillery

Suggested retail price:  $64.99

Drink The Bottles score:  91/100

Bells Up Winery: Fine Oregon Wines and Amazing People

 

If you've visited our website before, you already know that we are big fans of Bells Up Winery of Newberg, Oregon.  Our "wino" crew recently sat down virtually with owner and winemaker Dave Specter to taste through six of his micro-boutique, unique and delicious wines.  The other half of the winery and Dave's boss (and wife) Sara Specter made the arrangements and we were off to a beautiful evening!

Like every winery, there is a good story behind this one.  We guess "good" may not be the best way to describe how the winery came to fruition, but it does have a happy ending.  Dave and Sara began making wine in their basement in 2006.  Dave was a corporate tax attorney who was not enjoying (to put it lightly) his profession and wanted to pursue a passion of not only becoming a winemaker but eventually owning and operating his own winery with Sara.  While visiting the Willamette Valley in 2008 on vacation, they both fell in love with the area and there was, as they say, no looking back.

One really interesting connection we had during our virual tasting was the musical relationship between our tasting crew and Dave.  Dave was a French Horn player in high school and college and has been virtuoso of sorts for 20 years.  The name "Bells Up" refers to a maestro's instruction for French Horn players to lift their bells in order to project maximum sound.  And that's what Bells Up is for Dave and Sara.  Two members of our tasting crew, composer Richard Saucedo and Scott McCormick, former CEO of Bands of America, enjoyed going down memory lane and comparing notes/names of the music world almost as much as they did the wines.

Our lineup for the night consisted of:

• 2023 Rhapsody (100% Pinot Blanc, Willamette Valley AVA)
• 2022 Prelude (Estate Rosé of Pinot Noir, Chehalem Mountains AVA)
• 2021 Titan (Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley AVA)
• 2021 Jupiter (Estate Pinot Noir, Chehalem Mountains AVA)
• 2021 Maestro (Estate Reserve Pinot Noir, Chehalem Mountains AVA)
• 2021 Candide (Estate Reserve Pinot Noir, Chehalem Mountains AVA)

Dave started off by telling us the background of the dream, how it became a reality and how things are going.  When asked about their employees, Dave told us about the grower, winemaker, barrel filler, tour guide, tractor driver, taster, marketing director, social media/public relations lead, cashier, banker and welcoming committee they have.  And it is ALL done with two people - Sara and Dave.  You have to understand that with 600 cases produced annually on 7 planted of their 10 acres, they are considered a micro-boutique winery and the fact that they do all of this and produce such a high quality of wines is really mind blowing.  Normally when you have such a small operation, something is going to suffer.  99% of the time it is the website that will suffer and be out-of-date, the tour/tasting will be unmemorable or (God forbid) the wine will be sub par.  Not here.  Not by a long shot!

Named for George Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue, this wine actually renews our hope in white wines.  We tend to view many (most?) white wines as esophageal demons that produce heartburn and a bad aftertaste.  In fact, most of the wines that our tasting crew gravitate to are medium to full bodied reds.  Everyone (E V E R Y O N E) of us were very pleased how this wine tasted from start to finish.  The lack of oak was suprising, but the 6 months of lees stirring helped create a full bodied white wine with citrus fruits, spring rain, wet rock minerality and spice.  It was surprisingly mouth coating and left a very crisp but not overbearing finish.

ABV:  12.7%

Willamette Valley AVA

47 cases produced

Suggested retail price:  $38.00

Drink The Bottles score:  93/100

The 2022 Prelude Estate Rosé of Pinot Noir was another pleasing stunner.  Luckily for us Rosé of Pinot Noir usually hits on all cylinders with us and this one was extremely inviting!  Baking spice, fruit basket and sweet cherries on the nose and palate.  This one is very fruit forward and a wine that loves the company of salty cheeses.  Presents a lighter finish with acidity that is in check.

ABV:  12.8%

Chehalem Mountains AVA

108 cases produced

Suggested retail price:  $30.00

Drink The Bottles score:  91/100

Dave started our first of four Pinot Noir selections with the 2021 Titan.  We feel like we jumped in with both feet first with this bold and smoky Pinot, presenting scorched earth and asphalt on the nose, dark fruits, cherry, and spice cabinet on the palate.  Our group actually noted about eleven different flavor profiles and agreed that this felt more pronounced than expected for a Pinot Noir.  You would almost swear there was a bit of Petite Syrah in here.

ABV:  13.8%

Willamette Valley AVA

111 cases produced

Suggested retail price:  $46.00

Drink The Bottles score:  93/100

The 2021 Jupter Estate Pinot Noir was yin and yang to the Titan.  This one had more fresh red fruits, strawberry preserves, floral notes and less smoke than our first Pinot Noir.  It starts off softer and then really becomes more powerful and full of black cherry and spice cake flavors that trail off to a very satisfying and lightly spicy finish.  This one is drinking beautifully!

ABV:  13.5%

Chehalem Mountains AVA

154 cases produced

Suggested retail price:  $50.00

 

Drink The Bottles score:  94/100

When we asked Dave about picking his favorite Bells Up wine, he wouldn't do it.  We compared that akin to picking your favorite child.  But for our team collectively, the 2021 Maestro Estate Reserve Pinot Noir was the northern light for us during this tasting.  Beautiful, haunting, deep dark red color with soul-reaching aromas of black cherry, hibiscus, dried flower pedals, and country gravel road in the spring.  The flavors of elegant red fruits, nutmeg, cherry tobacco and cocoa powder challenged each other for dominance, all while dancing on the tongue.  This wine did not jump out at you, but rather pulled you in slowly and methodically, similar to the Jurassic Park theme song by John Williams.  This wine is named in honor of Williams and to us, it is an exquisite fit.  This is one of those wines that instinctively makes you throw your hands to the side of your face and simply exclaim, "Wow!".  Drink this now or cellar it for 5+ years.

ABV:  13.3%

77 cases produced

Chehalem Mountains AVA

Suggested retail price:  $56.00

Drink The Bottles score:  97/100

Our final wine of the evening (insert crying emoji here) was the 2021 Candide Estate Reserve Pinot Noir.  It was the highest alcohol content of the selections we enjoyed, but still well within a respectable check of only 13.6%.  This wine had more of that mouth-watering smokiness that you generally expect from Oregon Pinot, alson with dried rose petals, plum and damp earth.  It was also the "spicy" wine of the evening presenting a full complement of backing spices, book leather and baked berry pie.  The finish was similar to the 2021 Maestro, lingering for moments after the last sip and drawing you back for more.  It's quite amazing!

ABV:  13.6%

Chehalem Mountains AVA

64 cases produced

Suggested retail price:  $56.00

Drink The Bottles score:  94/100

We could have spent all night listening to Dave talk about his passion, his story and what lies ahead for Bells Up Winery.  It's abundantly clear that Dave and Sara strive to make a connection with every customer.  With over 1,000 wineries in Oregon, Team Specter knows that creating memorable wines and intimate experiences will result in lifelong fans and ultimately friends.  One of the biggest compliments Bells Up Winery can receive, according to Dave, is when someone simply says, "Wow, that's nice" or "Yummy".  As an UN-domaine winery, you receive a very personal experience from Dave and Sara, making you feel as if you are the only people on the planet.  And, at that moment, you are to them.

Bells Up Winery checks off all of the boxes for us:  delectable and memorable wines, incredibly friendly and down-to-earth people, affordable, low production, and a place we will visit in person one day.  

Penelope Bourbon Toasted Rye and Rosé Cask Finish

We have been big Penelope Bourbon enthusiasts since we tasted several different bottles at an informal tasting about 18 months ago.  These MGP-distilled products have been a huge hit for bourbon fans and their vast selection of offerings is pretty mind blowing!  Today we are tasting and discovering what two of their latest releases are all about. 

First up is the annual, limited release Penelope Toasted Rye.  This gem is a mash bill of 95% rye and 5% malted barley in #2 heavy char toasted barrels.  If you were camping with friends and toasting marshmallows in the crisp fall air in an apple orchard and you could bottle that, then that's what you have here.  The aromas are quite literally mouth-watering and the rich mohagany color with hints of copper only add to the appeal.  Tons of sweet butterscotch dance on the tongue with a zesty ginger, sweet nutmeg and subtle peppery note that lead to a finish that feels like it lingers for minutes.  We wouldn't consider this a dessert bourbon necessarily, but it would be a wonderful digestif after a special meal with friends.  This is definitely one of our favorite Penelope spirits we have tasted to date.  

This is batch 24-304 and it is limited to only 9,000 cases.  While Penelope is distributed in 47 states, you'll want to keep your eyes peeled for this one because it won't last long!

ABV:  50.0% (100 proof)

Distillery:  Penelope Bourbon (MGP)

Suggested retail price:  $74.99

Drink The Bottles score:  96/100

 

Moving onto to the Penelope Rosé Cask Finish, this is the 8th release of this Cooper Series stunner.  This is a four grain bourbon with a mash bill of 74% corn, 16% wheat, 7% rye and 3% malted barley, finished in French Grenache Rosé wine casks.  Daniel Polise, the master blender at Penelope Bourbon, has become a bourbon poet with his fine palate and masterful skills that fans of blended bourbons come to love.  

Golden orange in color and tasted neat, we were introduced to aromas of vanilla bean, tomato leaf, green tea, young Spring flowers and strawberries.  We were surprised how layered this was with strawberry creme saver candy, vanilla pudding, herb garden and passion fruit flavors that carried through from start to finish.  The finish is direct and pleasant and we feel this is a great late summer-into-fall sipper.  While we don't typically eat any food with bourbon, this one would be an exception and would pair well with some lighter Asian cuisine.  Well done!

ABV:  47.0% (94 proof)

Distillery:  Penelope Bourbon (MGP)

Suggested retail price:  $49.99

Drink The Bottles score:  93/100

Jeptha Creed Straight 4-Grain Bourbon

 

In Shelbyville, Kentucky sits a farm distillery of just over 60 acres that is operated by Joyce and Autumn Nethery, a mother daughter team who are creating unique flavor expressions in the world of distilled spirits.  Jeptha Creed has been around for about 8 years now, and they are currently produding four different bourbons, vodka, moonshine and brandy.  Today we look at the Jeptha Creek Straight 4-Grain Bourbon, which encompasses a mash bill of 70% Bloody Butcher Corn, 15% malted rye, 10% malted wheat and 5% malted barley.  Why 3 malted grains you ask?  The legend is that prior to having their own facility, the Jeptha Creed team would distill many of their grains at a midwest distillery and when they received their shipment, all of the grains were malted.  So what do you do when you get lemons?  You make lemonade.   Well, you know what we mean...

First of all, we love the look of this bottle and label.  It's not over the top, but it's classy looking and stands out amongst its peers.  Dark rust color, we tasted this neat in a rocks glass and were welcomed with aromas of spring meadow, forest floor, tobacco, floral boquet and dark fruits.  The earthy aromas were dominant and some air time really took you own a sensual journey.  The earthiness carried over to the palate forefront, but also brought in flavors of clover honey, vanilla, warm salted nuts, nutmeg and a lovely mint finish.  We don't know the exact age statement on this (aged at least 2 years per the label) but would love to see how their Bottled-In-Bond or 6 year wheated bourbons compare to this one.  If you're one who likes to stray from the mainstream bourbon scene and try something totally unique, we definitely recommend this one!

ABV:  49.0% (98 proof)

Distillery:  Jeptha Creed Distillery

Suggested retail price:  $52.99

Drink The Bottles score:  88/100

Dark Arts Amburana Oak Stave Finished Small Batch Rye

If you know anything about whiskey, you know that blending the spirits is nothing new.  However, it truly takes an exceptional talent to have the senses needed to make this work successfully.  Nearly anyone can blend whiskey.  But only a handful of folks can turn blended whiskey into amazing products that blend seamlessly and like magic.  Chief Alchemist Macaulay Minton is completely dialed in when it comes to producing a product that is unique and also makes you as giddy as a school girl.

Today we taste and share the Dark Arts Amburana Oak Stave Finished Small Batch Rye which has a mash bill of 95% rye and 5% barley.  While each batch is naturally different, the blends are from six to eight year age statements and contain three barrels for each small batch.  The whiskey is distilled in Indiana (most likely MGP) and the finishing and bottling happens in Lexington, KY.  We tasted this sweet treat neat in our favorite mini Belgian beer glass - again and again - from sample.

If you were tasting this blind, you might be surprised that this is a rye whiskey, depending on your tasting skills.  Light chestnut in color with sweet aromas of cinnamon, brown sugar, baked apples, baking spices and cinnamon.  Did we say cinnamon twice?  Yes.  Yes, we did.  The first and subsequent sips immediately greeted us with Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal and we will die on that hill all day long!  As stated previously, all batches are different but this one was incredibly reminiscent of the popular cereal.  There is a savory sweetness to this, but not overly sweet.  Sugar cream pie, warm apple cobbler, hints of pumpernickel and baking spices all lead us down a path to a persistent finish.  Dark Arts Whiskey House is doing some really cool things and we're glad to start seeing it on the shelves at stores when we travel.  Check them out!

ABV:  54.0% (108 proof)

Distillery:  MGP for Dark Arts Whiskey House

Suggested retail price:  $89.99

Drink The Bottles score:  91/100

 

Redemption Rye and Redemption Bourbon

The folks at Redemption Whiskey take their spirits very seriously.  We should emphasize that they are very passionate about what they do and they are obsessed with Rye whiskey in particular.  Their heavy Rye spirits celebrate the history of Rye being distilled as far back as the 1600's.   Many times when you run across someone who considers themselves "a bourbon guy or gal" they might quickly follow up with, "but I'm not big on Rye whiskey".  We get it.  There have been countless horror stories of Rye being too spicy or too hot.  But you'll never find this with Redemption Whiskey!

The Redemption Rye is a serious mash bill of 95% rye and 5% malted barley, resulting in a medium golden whiskey with mouth-watering, bold aromas of spring garden, spices, white pepper, toasted sourdough bread and citrus fruits.  Those aromas carry over to the palate and also carry hints of spring boquet and delicious grilling spices.  While this spirit comes in at 92 proof, it can certainly rest on its laurels, providing a very satisfying and lingering finish.  For those who "don't like Rye", they surely haven't tasted this one yet!  No wonder this is America's #1 favorite Rye whiskey.

ABV:  46.0% (92 proof)

Distillery:  Redemption Whiskey

Suggested retail price:  $29.99

Drink The Bottles score:  94/100

Master Blender Alan Kennedy continues to knock it out of the park with Redemption Bourbon.  The mash bill is 75% corn, 21% rye and 4% malted barley allowing this to be considered a bourbon but paying homage to the subtle rye spices that Redemption is known for in their spirits.  It's has a golden candy color in the glass with wafting aromas of plantains, caramel chews, toasted nuts and vanilla.  We tasted this neat, but there is no doubt that this 88 proof selection would be fantastic in a whiskey sour or whatever your favorite bourbon-based cocktail may be.

Hints of licorice are on the palate and carry through the medium spicy finish.  There's just enough peppery goodness to keep your tongue in check, combined with nutmet, allspice and butterscotch.  This is a bottle that should be on every bourbon bar in America as well as your home bar.  A bonus to this bottle is that is priced right and perfect for the amateur mixologist who wants to experiment with whiskey drinks!

ABV:  44.0% (88 proof)

Distillery:  Redemption Whiskey

Suggested retail price:  $24.99

Drink The Bottles score:  92/100