Rebel Yell
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Wheated Bourbon
Rebel Yell Distillery/Luxco
Louisville, Kentucky
80 Proof (40% Alcohol)
Many of the whiskeys I've reviewed here have for whatever reason been higher-end bourbons and scotches, including of course the annually impressive George T. Stagg bourbon. But, that's not an everyday type of whiskey. So, here we go, a cheap whiskey for today's review: Rebel Yell.
Rebel Yell is a Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey bottled at the industry standard 80 Proof and has no age statement. It's a wheated whiskey, which means it is made with wheat in the mashbill, making it a tad softer, sweeter, and gentler. And like Maker's Mark, Pappy, and a few of those others, I believe has no rye in the mashbill. Rye of course, lends a spicy kick. This has none.
Rebel Yell pours a light gold color (see photo above) and has aromas of vanilla, a touch of oak, and a vague underlying sweetness not unlike a pure corn whiskey. Tasting one gets flavors of light butterscotch, hints of oak and vanilla, and a moderate youthful alcohol burn.
Simple, light, straightforward and young. Not bad, but not great either. Rebel Yell is smooth enough to drink neat, but in my mind this is really a bourbon that's perfect for mixing. Over the course of my bottle, I had several Whiskey Sours, Bourbon and Ginger, and a Bourbon Mint Julep all of which were held up well by this sweet, youthful bourbon. I've had much worse at the under $20 bourbon price-range, that's for sure!
Drink This: if you want a wheated bourbon under $20 that's good for cocktails.
Don't Drink This: if you're looking for an impressive whiskey to sip neat and savor slowly.
Cheers, my friends!
Please drink responsibly...
Not a bad whiskey, especially for mixing. It's only like 9 bucks here is Oregon. Such a steal.
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