Rebel 100 Childress Vineyards Cabernet Franc Barrel Finish Bourbon Review

Rebel is a label that consistently puts me in a very #DrinkCurious mood. I have been impressed with most of Rebel’s whiskeys. Occasionally, there’s a release that doesn’t make my motor purr. I consider its track record to be good.

 

Recently, Lux Row Distillers provided me with a sample of Rebel 100 Childress Vineyards Cabernet Franc Barrel Finish Bourbon (now, that’s a mouthful!) in exchange for my no-strings-attached review.

 

What is Rebel 100? It is a wheated Kentucky Straight Bourbon with a mashbill going back to 1849. Wheated means that instead of using rye as the second-most prevalent ingredient, the distiller uses wheat. Wheat does two things that rye does not. First, distilled wheat has no flavor; it allows the flavors of other ingredients, including from the wood, to shine through. Second, wheat typically provides a softer, more rounded palate than rye, which oftentimes adds spice and/or sharpness to the palate. Rebel's wheat component is 20%.

 

Located in North Carolina and founded by Richard Childress, Childress Vineyards operates two vineyards covering 70 acres and produces over 30 wine varietals. If the name sounds familiar, that’s because of Richard Childress Racing, which has been around since 1964.

 

Cabernet Franc is one of the major black grape varietals used in winemaking around the world. The grape is of French origin, with records dating back to the 18th century; however, it has been around far longer.

 

“We selected the Cabernet Franc barrels from Childress Vineyards because we wanted to craft a smooth, high-proof Bourbon with tasting notes of sweet berry, oak, caramel, vanilla, and spice. Cabernet Franc was the perfect match for our wheated Rebel recipe, and the result was incredible.” – John Rempe, Master Distiller

 

• Whiskey Type: Bourbon
• Distiller: Lux Row Distillers
• Age: 4 years   
• Mashbill: 68% corn, 20% wheat, 12% malted barley
• Cooperage: New, charred oak barrels, then vintage Cabernet Franc wine barrels
• Alcohol Content: 50% ABV (100°)
• Price per 750mL: $39.99
• Availability: Lux Row Distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky, and ABC Stores in North Carolina only

 

Appearance: I poured this Bourbon into a Glencairn glass to explore neat. The liquid was orange amber in appearance; it formed a thin rim with thick, jagged, fast tears.

 

Nose: The aroma included notes of cocoa, French oak, blueberries, and caramel. As I drew the air into my mouth, I encountered chocolate.

 

Palate: As I tilted the glass to my mouth, the whiskey rolled past my lips and across my tongue, and it had a dense, creamy texture. On the front, I detected notes of vanilla, caramel, and honey. The middle featured ripe plums, blueberries, and black currants. Once it crossed the back of my palate, I discovered dry leather, French oak, and nutmeg.

 

Finish: The duration had one of those Energizer Bunny qualities. It just ran on and on and on. I timed it at 2:49. There were plenty of cloves, French oak, dry leather, tobacco leaf, nutmeg, blueberries, and honey to go around. Dry leather was the last to fall off.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: Cabernet Franc isn’t a barrel finish that you often stumble upon. I’ve had a handful, some of which were enjoyable, and others seemed strange.

 

Its nose was uncomplicated. I relished this Bourbon’s texture. It was captivating, almost as if it grabbed the sides of my head and forced me to stare into its eyes. On the palate, the blueberries and plums shoved the texture out of the way, snapped their fingers, and lulled me into a trance. That long, slow finish suggested that I close my eyes and chill.

 

I can’t say for sure, but this may be my favorite Rebel 100 expression, and that’s a two-edged sword. One side had me thrilled. The other was disappointing due to its minimal distribution. Chalk up that stupid-low price, and Rebel 100 Childress Vineyards Cabernet Franc Barrel Finish Bourbon is one that you must figure out how you can obtain a Bottle. 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.