Rebel Yell Kentucky Straight Bourbon (Discontinued)

My bottle simply says REBEL (without Yell), so I hope it's the same product. It has a gold-orange color. The aroma has notes of lacquered wood and spicy ribbon candy, with a hint of peanut dust. The barrel spices seem to primarily influence the scent above the glass. There's a peppery spice reminiscent of fennel or black licorice, and also some sulfuric notes like cabbage water. However, the final inhale brings a floral scent of rose petals. Upon tasting, the initial impression is of spices: black pepper, rye, and cinnamon. The mid-palate has notes of sawdust and wood, along with hints of brown leaves and peanuts. There's also a touch of corn syrup and sugary malted barley. Adding ice reveals notes of stewed red apple. The finish is long and luxurious. The woodiness is more resinous and oily than the dry sensation experienced initially. Flavors of chocolate and bitter mocha emerge, alongside almonds. There's a dry, earthy, leafy quality. The warmth lingers for a very long time. The barrel imparts both tannins and residual spices. This bourbon is exceptionally woody, with a pleasant secondary warmth on the sides of the palate. It's peppery, nutty, and spicy, with an extended finish.

The Rebel Yell that's no longer made (it appears to be just a label change) is an entry-level bourbon that can be overlooked. It's not bad by any means, but it is uninteresting, and you'd likely struggle to distinguish it from other entry-level bourbons. The aroma is quite subtle, starting with corn and some hay. The taste is very typical. Vanilla and some oak are the dominant flavors. The finish is brief, but mild with a touch of pepper. Given the price is under $20 a bottle, it's understandable that it's rather uninspiring. There are better bourbons in this price range (such as Evan Williams), but it's not terrible. I'm just not sure what this offers that most others haven't already provided. If it's offered, sure, have some, but I wouldn't seek it out if I were shopping.

This is likely one of the last bottles I'll open for some time. A gift from my brother-in-law six months ago, who is visiting next week. It's been deliberately ignored, but here it is for the sake of the review. I suspect this is young Larceny. It has a light yellow hue. Notes of banana, fresh wood, allspice, bubblegum, and cashews. It's somewhat classic but delicate. At 80 proof, it tastes diluted. It's thin with not much flavor, but it's not unpleasant and has no burn. A quick hint of vanilla, allspice, and wood, then it's gone. It's preferable to Basil Hayden for those who dislike a burn. That's not necessarily a compliment.

The aroma is characteristic of wheated bourbon, but somewhat muted. It's typical, with earthy scents like grass, wet stone, and the smell of dirt after rain. It has the corn and dust of a young bourbon; the wheat just softens the sharpness and adds sweet notes for me. The taste is again typical for wheated bourbon, but with an almost stale quality. The finish is medium length, but still carries that stale note, like a damp barn. I've tried this several times and simply don't enjoy it. There are other spice notes and a few complex elements, but the strange finish and aftertaste prevent me from finding it pleasurable.

I'm assigning it a 3.5, not because it's exceptionally good, but because any score lower suggests I shouldn't revisit it. That said, I would drink this again. This bourbon is decent for what it is – a drinkable, lower-end bourbon that's good over ice, not neat, which is typically my preference. I find it well-balanced and consider it comparable to Four Roses, but about 25% less expensive.

The initial taste is sweet, as expected from a wheated bourbon, but it fades quickly. There's a light, earthy flavor upon swallowing. The burn is minimal, but the warmth lingers. While it won't win any tasting competitions, it offers good everyday value for its price.