Rebel Yell 10 Year Single Barrel Bourbon

It's December 2020, and I'm ending this year with a new whiskey each day – my personal whiskey advent calendar. This is the sixth addition! December 10, 2020 A little over a year ago, I purchased this bottle with the clear intention of using it like money. I admit, I haven't always been the best person. For some reason, this never happened, and tonight, there it was—behind some store picks I've been working on, with a big number 10 on it. It practically called to me. If you're interested, here are the details: Barrel #: 5008669 Aged Since: 02/06 The nose is amazing. It's subtle yet full of classic bourbon characteristics. Sugar, caramel, lemon, honey. Then chocolate, cinnamon, and Red Delicious apples. The absence of harshness allows you to appreciate each scent without one dominating. The body is hotter than I anticipated based on the gentle nose. I primarily taste dessert notes in the body. Heavy chocolate and caramel. Leather. Sugar too, but mostly chocolate. The finish has something I dislike, which I've always found difficult to describe. It's somewhere between licorice and latex rubber, and it has always detracted from Russell's Reserve products for me. Once I notice it, it's hard to ignore. Fortunately, it's a minor note here, as there's also cinnamon and vanilla on the finish. This finish is also relatively long for a bourbon, and I don't mind that. Overall, this dram has a special quality. I know that might sound odd, but the color, the legs, and a promising nose made me genuinely excited when I picked up the glass. Some $200 bourbons lack this, while some $30 bourbons possess it. It's an intangible factor, and this one has it. I have no particular feelings towards the Rebel Yell brand (and this isn't in my top 20), but I'm surprised by how much I'm enjoying it. This is nothing like the standard Rebel Yell or Rebel Yell 100. The leap in quality from the standard line to this premium tier is one of the most remarkable examples of this phenomenon in the bourbon world. I strongly recommend that bourbon enthusiasts seek this out if they haven't already, and I'm glad I took this out of the 'currency' category. It's no longer just money. 'Tis the season. My daily whiskey choice varies, so if you're reading this and want me to try something readily available this holiday season, whether for enjoyment or suffering, leave your suggestions in the comments. Merry whiskey to all, and to all a beer flight!

I've been wanting to try this bourbon with the "Rock" moniker for a long time, which is awesome because I call myself a Rock Warrior. The Rebel Yell 10yo Single Barrel Wheated Bourbon is seen as quite aged for an American whiskey, as many bourbons don't reach a decade. It's also worth clarifying "Wheated Bourbon": this means the mash bill includes wheat instead of rye, giving it a "non-traditional" taste. While not extremely uncommon, this isn't the norm for most bourbons, which typically feature 70% corn (legally only 51% is required, but 70% is common), 20% rye, and 10% barley. This is from a single barrel, though the handwritten cask number is illegible, a lengthy seven digits. It's bottled at 50% ABV. The aroma leads with sweet cherry jam, tart prunes, and uncooked rice. A powerful alcohol presence is noted on the nose. The taste is wonderfully sweet cherry syrup; like Hershey's strawberry syrup. Extremely sweet and jam-like. Cotton candy notes are present. The finish isn't exceptionally deep; raw rice, prunes, and a burst of pepper. In summary, this was remarkably sweet, a bit too straightforward, but enjoyable for occasional sipping. It wasn't overwhelmingly impressive, though the wheated character did provide interesting rice notes. I've rated it 80/100.

For my 100th review, a bottle I've been eager to try. This is actually more like a 14-year-old. Nose is very gentle. Mostly fruity with apple, peach, and fig, along with some floral notes of honeysuckle. If that sounds appealing, it is. Palate begins with honey, vanilla, apple, and baked sugared peaches before shifting to cinnamon, clove, and pepper, which also carry into the medium-length finish. An earthy undertone (mushroom?) is also present in the finish. After everything else fades, you're left with a lovely lingering aftertaste of caramel flan. Quite complex. I enjoy a whiskey that transitions from sweet to spicy and back to sweet, and this offers that with a smooth, unified experience. Texture is creamy and on the delicate side. So yes, as my first wheated whiskey of this age, I understand the phenomenon; the softness is real, yet the flavors are fully realized and not lacking in depth at all; a difficult balance to achieve. It reminds me somewhat of a particular single barrel with regards to flavor integration and earthiness. At $70, it's a bit expensive, but I think the quality-to-cost ratio is appropriate. I would purchase it again at that price if the chance arose. Anything less would be a bargain.

Barrel No. 5651852 Barrel Filled 09-30-2009 Open 11 months Smell: Burnt sugar, peanut hulls, caramel, cinnamon, nutmeg, hay from a barn, cardamom, vanilla, lemon zest, weak cigar smoke, and a little alcohol. Taste: Maraschino cherry, caramel, toast, dry wood, clove, cinnamon, damp leaves, stale peanuts, bitter cacao, and black pepper. The finish is medium, with drier wood tannins, anise, clove, moldy plants, decaying wood, ash from a campfire, bitter dark chocolate, and a slight alcohol burn. I only grabbed this because it's hard to find, thinking I could trade it. I've never really liked Heaven Hill's wheated bourbons, so I hoped to swap this, but nothing really tempted me. Honestly, I'd have preferred the 1792 FP pick or ECBP; they're much more enjoyable. To me, this is just bad. The taste has too much musty wood and plant-like flavors, overpowering any spice, fruit, or peanut notes. For the price of $80, when you can get barrel-strength or nearly barrel-strength Rebel picks for less, I wouldn't bother. I don't think the 10 years served this bourbon well; I enjoy it more with a younger age statement. Maybe a friend will take the half bottle off my hands.

Neat. Opened for about a year. I had Larceny barrel proof earlier, and it either really opened up or my palate was just in the right state for it. I've had an up-and-down history with Rebel Yell, so I decided to try this wheater next. The oak is very prominent here. It's a pleasant fresh oak, not sweet or musty, just clean. Cinnamon and clove, plenty of baking spices. A decent amount of alcohol vapor from the glass for only 100 proof. A hint of mint. A little vanilla. Honestly, the aroma isn't anything too exciting. It's a bit thin on the tongue but oily enough to coat. Cinnamon sugar and oak on the palate. Wow. There's this wheater characteristic. The sweetness veers into a direction I dislike. Trying to pinpoint it... perhaps like a banana that's extremely overripe. It's not brown on the outside yet, but when you open it, it's mushy and unpleasant. I must be unlucky with Rebel Yell 10. People rave about this, and I just don't get it. I think it's my least favorite wheater. It has to be a poor barrel selection.

After many years of searching, I finally acquired this bourbon. It's tasty. I'd suggest it if you enjoy a wheater profile. Served neat (though a tiny bit enhances it), the aroma offers cake batter, caramel, aged books, and baking spices with mature oak. Flavors of cinnamon rolls and aged oak dominate the palate, revealing notes of melted sugar, intense vanilla caramel, and bready dough. The texture is characteristic of a wheater but doesn't hinder the flavor. The finish is dry oak and spice, with lingering sweet bready notes and raw vanilla. A very solid drink, even considering the cost. I'd need to compare it directly, but I'm confident it's much better than Makers 46. It might be a little expensive, but it's a single barrel with a 10-year age statement. 86/100. It's one of the superior wheaters available if you can locate it. I might get a bottle of Weller 12 yr, so I'll compare them if that happens.