Remus Repeal Reserve Series V (2021 Medley)

Providing my feedback on this Remus Repeal batch 5. This is a MGP house brand, created with the high rye mash bill and a combination of - 51% 2008 bourbon (36% Rye) - 13% 2008 bourbon (21% Rye) - 19% 2006 bourbon (21% Rye) - 05% 2006 bourbon (36% Rye) - 09% 2005 bourbon (21% Rye) Poured at 100 Proof… Let’s get started 👇🏽👇🏽 Nose: Light sweet oak and mild clove spice. A hint of toasted marshmallow and candy syrup. Bright fruit (cherry/orange) and dusty corn Palate: Pleasant and incredibly drinkable. That toasted oak sweetness is well-integrated throughout with all the sugar and marshmallow; it’s somewhat in the middle of seeming aged and young. I detect sweet tobacco along with a touch of tannic. I do desire a slightly deeper oak presence; it is genuinely more on the bright, light spectrum. That said, this is an extremely well-balanced dram with everything making itself apparent. A final burst of cherry and spice remains on the back palate. Finish: This is my preferred part of the drink and I feel this is where the nice age becomes evident. It persists for a good while. Very mouth-coating and velvety. It’s oaky, sweet, and that cherry truly endures. A very nice lingering of toasted barrel sugars and spice is what remains the most. Possibly also some toffee and light pipe tobacco. Summary/ Rating: 89 out of 100 I truly enjoy this. It’s drinkable, it’s relaxing, it’s balanced, and it’s just an all-around pleasure. I think this is a fantastic dram for whiskey lovers who want to focus on the whiskey…but not too intensely 😉. It’s not the most rich and complex spirit available, but I believe this demonstrates what can happen when blending is done correctly! Cheers🥃

The aroma begins with a blend of florals, apricots dusted with powdered sugar, and aged oak, followed by milk chocolate covered caramel squares and toasted walnuts. Next come anise-spiced baked pears, charred orange peel, and maraschino cherries, transitioning to spearmint, cloves, ginger, and polished leather, with a moderate ethanol burn. The taste has a medium mouthfeel, starting floral and sweet with a tropical fruit salad dusted in powdered sugar, before a moderate spice quickly fades to charred orange peel and aged oak. It continues with milk chocolate covered caramel squares and toasted walnuts, then anise-spiced baked pears, sautéed cinnamon apples, and black cherries, finishing with spearmint, cloves, ginger, and polished leather, accompanied by a medium ethanol burn. The finish is medium length, with mild ashy oak spice, charred orange peel, anise-spiced baked pears, spearmint, cloves, ginger, and polished leather. This is an excellent bourbon that merges traditional aged bourbon flavors with tropical fruits, florals, and unique spices, creating a complex and distinctive profile. It deviates from the typical bourbon character with a bit more spice than preferred, but not enough to overwhelm the unique notes. At around $80+, it's a bargain in the current market, and highly recommended. Thanks to a friend for providing a generous sample.

Nose: butterscotch, vanilla, walnut, black cherry, cinnamon butter, tobacco, earthy mint, chocolate, cranberry, grass, orange zest, with a moderate ethanol burn. Taste: butterscotch, cherry, vanilla, peanut butter, orange, mint, tangerine, apple, pineapple, grass, leather, chocolate, sweet floral notes, rich oak, with a moderate alcohol bite. The finish is medium-long, featuring butterscotch, citrus, and tropical fruit flavors. The final pour in my Remus exploration is this fifth Repeal Reserve expression. I was unfortunately somewhat unimpressed with the third release, so let's see how this one performs. The nose is genuinely appealing. It's even more citrus and red fruit-forward than the third release. It has sweet, grassy notes along with nutty, minty chocolate aromas. The palate is robust and rich. Bright red fruits and deep citrus qualities are complemented by chocolate and tropical fruit flavors. The mouthfeel is medium, and the finish lingers pleasantly. This is excellent bourbon. It significantly surpasses the third release for me. It has a pronounced citrus character, but it doesn't become thin and sour like the previous one. I'm not sure I've encountered a profile quite like this in another bourbon. It's exceptionally well-crafted, though perhaps a bit too bright and fresh for my personal preference. Many thanks to both individuals who provided generous samples. I have enough for one more enjoyable tasting.

The aroma is quite subtle, with notes of spun sugar, strawberry, green leafy vegetable, sawdust, and light generic citrus. It's definitely a distinctive aroma with many appealing qualities, I just wish it was a bit stronger. There is absolutely no ethanol presence, which is fantastic. Those familiar with MGP expressions will recognize the typical bright flavor profile. Green apple, honey, mossy oak, and a light pepper and nutmeg spice. The flavors have depth and complexity, yet they are also very well-rounded and smoothly combined. The finish is medium in length with a sweetness characteristic of MGP bourbons that I refer to as “ice cream sundae” – specifically French vanilla and caramel. It's somewhat unusual for a bourbon to transition from a sharp opening to a darker finish, but that's often the case with these well-aged MGP bourbons for me. The mouthfeel is soft and buttery, perfectly complementing the flavor profile. I believe the age of the bourbons in the blend significantly contributed to its quality, as there are no rough edges. It's an enjoyable, smooth 100 proof sipper with no noticeable flaws. For the $68 I paid, I have no regrets and would easily purchase it again.

I am quite perplexed and frankly, a bit let down. This bottle doesn't resemble the tasting notes from a certain person, nor the descriptions from numerous other bourbon enthusiasts. Perhaps it's aged too long, considering the label indicates the spirits were distilled from 2005-2008, and my preference leans towards richer bourbons aged around 8-10 years. This might reflect my own taste more than the whiskey's quality, but I certainly regret not investing that $100 in a slightly younger bourbon. My impressions are: Nose: Faint hints of nutmeg and a whisper of oak, largely overshadowed by a noticeable alcohol presence. Palate: A hot start, with a light to medium body but a silky texture from minimal tannins, and quite dry. The flavors are subdued. Not much fruit. Some dry wood, but not the sweet vanilla oak character. After adding approximately 10% water and waiting 10-15 minutes for further development and to allow some alcohol to dissipate: the heat lessened only slightly. The nose revealed notes of leather and some tartness, but the palate showed little change in its muted flavors. In essence, bland.

It has a rich auburn color and coats the glass. The nose has sweet corn, vanilla, and a light grassy spice. Sweet grain, caramel corn, and then a strong rye spice explodes, building to vanilla oak and ethanol in the mouth. It has a creamy, full mouthfeel. The finish is long and slightly sour beneath a tingle of spicy, grassy, and mint notes. This is a classic MGP blend, heavily favoring rye, with three or four distinct flavor notes. It's crisp and earthy, good all the way through. It showcases MGP's distilling expertise. I'm pleased they are now bottling their own spirits, which encourages others to be more honest about what they market as their own, and that's a positive thing. Update 6/2023: A year and a half after my initial review, this bourbon remains an impressively balanced drink. I've increased its rating from 4.25 to 4.5 and added it to my Top Shelf list. Only one glass left now. Cheers.