George Remus Single Barrel Straight Bourbon (2020 Release)

Nose: This aroma is on the subtle side. I detect something faintly nutty, perhaps in the coconut or almond spectrum, but it's delicate. There's a trace of banana/caramel and maybe a little wood. My initial impression is of a less intense and complex version of a specific high-proof bourbon. That bourbon offers more banana and much more vibrant green notes, along with a lighter floral vanilla compared to the more mineral character here, but the overall impression is still somewhat similar. Between the two, I would definitely choose the other bourbon. Palate: It's spicier than anticipated. I'm getting distinct rye spice and minerality here, alongside some light banana (though less banana than expected) and caramel. I notice more apple peel and something slightly bitter and tart in the fruit profile. There's not much of it, and the taste is dry. I'm sensing a bit of a harsh burn beyond just the effect of the high alcohol content. There's a faint floral wood presence, and the palate feels somewhat chewy due to the high alcohol. I detect a bit of tartness, likely from a sour mash process, but not much else is happening. I suspect there might be another flavor present, but it's unclear. The added proof is a nice feature here, but the overall complexity, richness, and even fullness, apart from the raw alcohol, are low. There might be a hint of smoke and more robust wood, but it's minimal. A specific high-proof bourbon utterly surpasses this in terms of complexity, richness, fullness, and flavor quality. There is simply no comparison. Finish: The wood and a somewhat bitter yet still very light caramel linger. Towards the end of the finish, I get a faint green banana, but it's not prominent. It's completely acceptable, but uninspiring. Conclusion: This whiskey primarily benefits from its high proof. I'd place it on a similar level to a specific 10-year-old bourbon (without the benefit of oxidation) and another small batch bourbon. I'm looking in the 14 to 16 range, leaning towards a 15 or 16. I was considering a 16, but then I recalled the harshness, so I'm settling on a 15. Thanks to a friend for sharing!

Tasted neat, from the first pour. From a store selection. 113 proof single barrel. How old? Unsure. Five individuals discussing bourbon at the store couldn't even state the age of their own store selection. Not exactly a promising start, but I enjoy MGP products and purchased it regardless. It cost $58, which suggests a 5-6 year age to me for MGP, as these picks typically cost around $10 per year. (However, the customer service was poor; I was quite disappointed with that interaction at the store...) Okay, on the nose, this is a first pour and it's a bit hot. But I'm detecting hints of many flavors, just need to let it settle. Oh, this is an MGP product bursting with butterscotch. It makes me think it might be the low rye mash bill initially. The butterscotch is excellent, though. It's accompanied by vanilla and a medley of berries – the berries are in a range of high and mid-tones, like apples, peach, cherry, or mixed berries. With each sniff, my description of the fruit shifts, which is engaging. That much fruit in an MGP product is also unusual. I typically get apple or cherry, but not this complex blend. Fresh pie crust and pleasant baking spices, cinnamon and sugar, are present. However, there's a blast of black pepper that prevents the experience from becoming overly sweet. A slight hint of green notes, which I sometimes detect in young MGP products. Sticking with the 5-6 year age estimate. Incredibly creamy and an amazing mouthfeel. Much darker on the tongue than I expected. Like dark maple syrup. It transitions directly into the butterscotch and fruits detected on the nose. I'm going to focus on apple and cherry. Next to the butterscotch, it starts bright like an apple but quickly deepens into the cherry, and the cherry is what remains on the finish. Butterscotch is the primary note. There's also some nice vanilla that lingers on the finish. It's almost like a vanilla cherry cola. This is an enjoyable MGP product with prominent butterscotch, and I'm still leaning towards the low-rye assumption. A 5-6 year old low rye. For the price, I would prefer a different store pick over this one. This is certainly delicious and superior to 80% of the young MGP I've sampled over the past year, but it's not an outstanding bottle compared to other options available for $60.

Bottle selection from a liquor store, cask number 498. Strength 121.5 proof. I skipped this one previously, as I generally avoid spirits that are not clearly identified (a poor business practice). However, its designation as a barrel pick and cask strength piqued my interest enough to purchase it. The aroma contains a significant amount of alcohol, as anticipated. Other scents are hard to discern, but based on what I can infer, it seems to have a high corn content, with rye forming the remainder. I do detect distinct notes of butterscotch and vanilla, which supports my belief in a high corn composition. Naturally, the initial taste is sharp, but it's manageable, as is typical for all cask strength spirits. It's unremarkable but not without taste; it possesses the standard, traditional rye bourbon characteristics often found in MGP bourbons, but it fails to stand out further. Notes of charred oak, caramel, vanilla, and brown sugar are present, but so far, only the proof distinguishes it from other unremarkable MGP offerings (no offense to MGP, but I strongly dislike mystery MGP). Yes, it's a commendable cask strength product, but its pricing was only justifiable because it was a barrel pick, and even then, it was still overpriced for what I received. It will satisfy my companions who demand spirits of at least 120 proof, but hopefully, even they will recognize that this is simply bourbon. That said, I consider this a good benchmark for evaluating all bourbons, as it is straightforward, traditional, and, most importantly, not diluted.

Acquired this a month ago. No age statement, but I estimate 7 years, bottled at 122 proof. It's been open a few days, as the initial pour was too potent. I still prefer it with a couple drops of water or over ice. MGP high rye is becoming a favorite, and they are now excelling under their own label. The nose receives the highest marks, being among the best I've encountered. Surprisingly, the alcohol is quite subdued, and a couple drops of water reach the optimal point. Initially, you're met with rich butterscotch, perfectly balanced. Beneath that are layers of spice and fruit that evolve with each sniff. The taste is consistent and also evolves, but I keep returning to the aroma. It's close to perfection. Boone County 1833 barrel proof shares the same heritage with a slightly lower proof and more age, but they are very similar. I enjoy both. While other bourbons have a longer finish, even my empty glass retains that wonderful aroma. I'm eager to try the Repeal Reserve IV.

Nose: Caramel, vanilla, cherry, sweet floral notes, orange, anise, allspice, clove, chocolate, apple, oak, dry herbal notes, with a moderate ethanol burn. Taste: Salted caramel, vanilla, apple, ginger, sweet floral notes, anise, leather, clove, grass, cocoa, cinnamon, a moderate alcohol bite, and a medium-short finish with caramel, vanilla, and baking spice flavors. This is a new brand for me, but MGP is familiar. I anticipated a decent high-rye bourbon, and this appears to be it. The nose is classic bourbon with added rye spice, nothing more, nothing less. The palate follows suit, offering good flavors that are bright and youthful without being harsh or unpleasant. The mouthfeel and finish are average. I don't have much more to say about this. It's a better-than-average bourbon. Additional barrel aging would enhance it. Review concluded. Many thanks to a friend for the generous sample! I will be trying some Remus Repeal releases next.

This is a single barrel selection from a bourbon club, bottled at 121.9 proof. Let's see how the selection turned out. The nose begins with baked apple crisp, mingled with orange, cherry, medium caramel notes, then grapefruit pith, and finally spearmint. A sip reveals the same flavors as the nose, with baked apple crisp prominent. It has a medium mouthfeel with light caramel, orange zest, cherry liqueur, grapefruit pith, then transitions to a burst of barrel spices, showcasing the barrel and an alcohol bite, followed by cinnamon red hots, apple crisp, and a final spearmint note that lingers. Overall, at $40 for a single barrel pick, it's reasonably priced and offers interesting flavors. I don't need another bottle, but I'm pleased with this selection.