If
it is September, it is Bourbon
Heritage Month. And, if it is Bourbon Heritage Month,
it is the beginning of Allocated Bourbon Season. This is typically when the
American legacy distilleries distribute a bulk of their annual releases.
Remus
Repeal Reserve is one of those annual allocated whiskeys I wait for with great
anticipation. I’ve been blessed to have reviewed several Remus Repeal Reserve
Bourbons. They range all over the place, but the clear standout (so far) has
been Series V from 2021. In fact, it was so spectacular that it
took my 2021 Best Bourbon and 2021 Whiskey of the Year award. Series VI (2022) wasn’t as impressive:
“The remaining question, however, is if it holds up to Series V. As much as I enjoyed Series VI, it didn’t meet its lofty standard. I wanted to ensure that my memory wasn’t romanticizing last year’s release and to verify that, I poured myself a glass of my 2021 Whiskey of the Year, which confirmed my suspicion.”
And
now, the 2023 Series
VII is released. It weighs in at 50% ABV
(100°), and a 750ml package has a suggested price of $99.99. The mashbill is
100% MGP (now Ross
& Squibb) and is comprised of:
- 2007 Bourbon: 75% corn, 21% rye, 4% malted barley (6%)
- 2013 Bourbon: 75% corn, 21% rye, 4% malted barley (26%)
- 2013 Bourbon: 60% corn, 36% rye, 4% malted barley (26%)
- 2014 Bourbon: 75% corn, 21% rye, 4% malted barley (21%)
- 2014 Bourbon: 60% corn, 36% rye, 4% malted barley (21%)
The
good news is that I still have both Series V and Series VI. Hence, after I #DrinkCurious,
I can assess how Series VII compares to both.
I
must take a moment and thank Ross & Squibb for providing me with a sample
of Series VII in exchange for my no-strings-attached, honest review.
Appearance: I drank
this Bourbon neat from my Glencairn glass. The liquid inside was the color of
rust. A thinner rim formed, which generated wavy, thicker tears.
Nose: I
smelled rye spice, brown sugar, maraschino cherries, ancient oak, tobacco, and
vanilla. When I pulled the air through my lips, I tasted spiced nuts.
Palate: The
texture was oily, and the Bourbon slid effortlessly across my palate and down
my throat. Flavors of thick caramel, raisins, and dried cherries were on the
front, while the middle featured cinnamon, candied pecans, and tobacco. The
back offered charred oak, clove, and rye spice.
Finish: I
encountered a longer finish consisting of charred oak, cinnamon, dried
cherries, caramel, leather, and tobacco.
Bottle, Bar, or Bust: Point
blank, I enjoyed my pour of Series VII. It had plenty of depth, and everything
meshed well. I’ve not forgotten my promise of a comparison with Series V and
VI.
I’ll start with Series VI
since I know that didn’t rate higher than Series V. The nosing of Series VII
completely eclipsed that of Series VI. In fact, last year’s taste seemed muted when
I tasted it against the 2023 version. Series VII also had more punch
than Series VI despite sharing the same proof. The finish was slightly longer
on Series VI. My verdict: Series VII.
Next is the reigning series
champion. Again, Series VII pulled out ahead in the nosing; simply put, it had
more going on than Series V. However, my eyes rolled back into my head with how
Series V’s tasted. I was still able to see with Series VII. The spiciness of
this year’s release was bolder than Series V, but that wasn’t enough to hand
the title to Series VII.
Despite that, Series VII
deserves a Bottle rating. It is delicious. It will grab your attention.
There will be no buyer’s remorse. Cheers!
My Simple, Easy-to-Understand
Rating System
- Bottle = Buy It
- Bar = Try It
- Bust = Leave It
Whiskeyfellow encourages
you to enjoy your whiskey as you see fit but begs you to do so responsibly.
Tasting mine for the first time now, and wow! Absolutely fantastic
ReplyDeleteLove the review.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
Delete