Rebel Yell 2017 Single Barrel Review

Patrick "Pops" Garrett -

BOTTLE DETAILS

  • DISTILLER: Rebel Yell Distillery (owned by Luxco) – actually distilled by Heaven Hill
  • MASH BILL: It’s a wheated bourbon but they didn’t disclose the details. It’s widely presumed to be Heaven Hill’s standard wheated mash bill of 68% Corn  |  20% Wheat  |  12% Malted Barley
  • AGE: 10 Years
  • YEAR: 2017
  • PROOF: 100 (50% ABV)
  • MSRP: $59.99
  • BUY ONLINE: Wine-Searcher.com

POPS' NOTES

NOSE: Toffee  |  Charred Oak  |  Malt  |  Dark Fruits

TASTE: Sweet Oak  |  Leather  |  Raisins  |  Baking Spices

FINISH: The finish tends to be a bit oak forward, followed by corn sweetness and spice. The burn stays with you for a bit while you ponder your next sip.

SHARE WITH: Share this one with bourbon drinkers who enjoy a rich flavor profile and appreciate what single barrel releases have to offer.

WORTH THE PRICE: This year’s MSRP of $59.99 is about $10 more than last year’s release. It’s well in line with other releases on the market, but a 20% increase in 12-month for a product that hasn’t changed may cause some people heartburn.

BOTTLE, BAR OR BUST: I wouldn’t have any issue purchasing a bottle or two for my home bar.

OVERALL: I really loved the 2016 Rebel Yell Single Barrel release. In fact, if I could have found a steady supply of it I might have made it my house bourbon. When I received my sample of the 2017 release, I was pretty excited and was eager to see how it matched up to my memory of the 2016 release. After tasting it a few times, I can honestly report that I prefer the 2016 release over this year’s release. The sample I received was from barrel #5043515, and it was noticeably more tannic than I remember last year’s being. It’s still a solid pour, but the charred oak is a bit too strong, resulting in some sweet and bitter flavor notes fighting for your attention. Remember, my barrel is probably going to be different than yours, so hopefully other barrels provide a more balanced and rich flavor experience. If you can find a barrel that’s similar to last year’s release you’ll want to buy several bottles to keep on hand. While the 2017 version wasn’t as fantastic as last year’s, it’s still a solid pour and will keep me eagerly awaiting the 2018 release.

BRAND NOTES

The original time-honored recipe meticulously aged in charred oak barrels for 10 years, building a unique flavor profile specific to each batch.

NOSE: Vanilla, Dark Fruits, Citrus and Oak

PALATE: Initial traces of Caramel and Citrus

FINISH: Velvety smooth finish and just a hint of spice

Rebel Yell® Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey has released the 2017 edition of its highly sought-after Rebel Yell® Single Barrel, meticulously aged for a full 10 years and bottled at 100 proof, one barrel at a time. This hand-bottled wheated bourbon launched in 2016 in limited quantity, with 2,000 cases available nationwide. In 2017, Rebel Yell Single Barrel will once again be available nationwide in limited quantity – 2,000 cases.

An ultra-premium bourbon, Rebel Yell Single Barrel is robust in flavor with a mature finish and is hand-bottled for a uniquely rebellious experience. By bottling the bourbon barrel-by-barrel, each bottle will have a unique flavor profile – depending on how it aged, its location in the rick house and the flavor development within that particular barrel. Each bottle, complete with a premium matte finish closure and natural wood cork, is sold in individual boxes.

“Rebel Yell Single Barrel was incredibly popular in its 2016 release and we are pleased to offer another 2,000 cases this year,” says Fletcher Buchman, brand manager at Luxco. “Due to the bottling and aging process, this bourbon offers a unique tasting experience that may vary from bottle to bottle – consumers really enjoyed this concept and the flavors that come with aging bourbon for 10 years.”

Top industry experts also recognize the bourbon’s excellence – Rebel Yell Single Barrel recently earned a double gold medal at the 2017 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. As with the 2016 release, the bourbon will be available in 750 ml bottles, bottled at 100 proof (50% ABV).

Disclaimer: Rebel Yell provided Bourbon & Banter with a sample of their product for this review. We appreciate their willingness to allow us to review their products with no strings attached. Thank you.