Rebel Kentucky Straight Bourbon

This budget bourbon has a light nose with minerality, hints of tangerine, light caramel, and sweat. It's passable but not good, with a faint peanut richness. The palate is light and thin, featuring light caramel sweetness, pepper, white corn, hints of tangerine, and some rind bitterness. It's bland and not great, with noticeable minerality. The finish is fairly light with woodiness and pepper, plus a lighter, watery caramel, and some wood notes. It's not bad, but bland and light. Overall, it's not good but could work as a mixer. It's lighter than Jim Beam Original but less bitter. Still, some bitterness is present. It's lighter and less bitter than The Sexton, which is sweeter and fruitier. I rate it an 8.

It's not pricey, even when shipped overseas. However, I know some less expensive options can be surprisingly good. Let's see how it stacks up against my usual budget bourbon, Bulleit! The nose is rather uninspired, offering a faint whiff of caramel and a thin profile with no complexity. There are perhaps a few earthy notes. The mouthfeel is thin, with a slight wood bitterness. I must admit, the flavor isn't bad; it actually has dark chocolate, coffee, and baked bread notes. While there are a few layers, it's quite sweet. A fruity element would be welcome. Only a very, very faint hint of lemon appears in the final lingering taste, which is mostly wood and some tannins. It's acceptable, I suppose. It's reasonably smooth and not bad at all, but it won't be a bottle I get excited about. Can it compete with Bulleit? For me, no. Only Buffalo Trace came close to the taste of Bulleit Straight Bourbon in this price range. It's a shame, but the search continues:-)

I was pleasantly surprised. While it's not in the same league as Weller, Maker's Mark, or other higher-priced wheated bourbons, this drinks well enough to enjoy neat, on the rocks, or as an excellent mixer. I paid $14 for it and would happily make space for it on my shelf. It's young, but it's sweet, with notes of caramel, a hint of apple, and oak. Honestly, I'm a fan of Larceny, and this drinks quite similarly.

Just okay. It seems to resemble a mix of standard Jim Beam and Jack Daniel's. It's my preferred whiskey for mixing with Coca-Cola. It works alright in other sweet drinks. I wouldn't reach for it for traditional or intricate bourbon cocktails. It's not fantastic straight but goes down easier chilled with ice. Still, it's quite budget-friendly and usually available for a decent price.

This is my preferred budget Bourbon. It has a smooth taste and is easy to drink neat. It's slightly sweet without excessive burn. A wheated bourbon. You're unlikely to find a better low-cost bourbon anywhere.

It's acceptable for mixing. Better on the rocks than neat. I wouldn't actively seek it out when other options in this low-cost price range are preferable.