Remus Master Distiller Experimental Series No. 2 Straight Wheat Whiskey Review

 

Are you familiar with the infamous George Remus? He gained notoriety as the King of the Bootleggers during the Prohibition era. However, his reputation was not one of kindness. Make no bones about it – he was a full-fledged psycho!

 

You see, Remus was a smart, creative criminal defense attorney who represented bootleggers and murderers. He was a master at getting his clients acquitted, despite being fully aware of their guilt. At some point, he realized he could make more money as a bootlegger than as an attorney, and he switched careers.

 

Remus found a loophole in the Volstead Act, which permitted individuals to procure distilleries and lawfully manufacture medicinal whiskey. He bought every working distillery in the greater Cincinnati area, then instructed his employees to hijack the whiskeys slated for delivery and sell them on the black market. If that weren’t enough, he would double-dip and file insurance claims for the stolen whiskey!

 

Eventually, the feds caught on, and George found himself indicted on several thousand counts of violating the Volstead Act. He went to trial, and a jury wasted no time convicting him. He was sent to a federal prison in Atlanta.

 

Oh – it gets better. Remus was a braggard. He got affable with a fellow prisoner and made a big deal about how he hid all of his assets in his wife’s name so that nobody could get them. That fellow prisoner just happened to be undercover agent Franklin Dodge. Dodge was no saint, either. He resigned from his position and started an affair with Remus’ wife. They fell in love and started selling George’s assets, leaving him with a mere $100.00 to his name!

 

Remus was furious and, on the way to court for his divorce proceedings, staked out his wife’s car. As she exited her vehicle, he shot her in the stomach. Allegedly, she was pregnant with Dodge’s child. Remus was arrested, pled not guilty by reason of insanity, and the jury took less than twenty minutes to deliver its verdict supporting that. And that, my friends, is the story of George Remus.

 

Ross & Squibb Distillery (formerly MGP) named its flagship Bourbon after him.

 

A year ago, Remus Bourbon launched its Master Distiller Experimental Series No. 1, a Bourbon aged for 9 years in lightly charred, heavily toasted Seguin Moreau barrels with staves seasoned for 24 months. I reviewed it, described it as blissful, and crowned it with my Bottle rating.  

 

Fast forward to today, and Master Distiller Ian Stirsman has released Series No. 2, the brand’s first Straight Wheat whiskey, aged for nine years, then finished in Tawny Port, White Port, Oloroso Sherry, and Ruby Port casks.

 

“There is nothing more exciting to a Master Distiller than having the space for exploration. With Series No. 2, I set out to create something entirely new for Remus by working with our LKSV, 95% wheat whiskey mashbill for the first time. It’s a continuation of our commitment to innovation while respecting the deep-rooted heritage of our distillery.” – Master Distiller Ian Stirsman

Series No. 2 is slated for nationwide rollout, yet its limited production means it won’t be everywhere. Packaged in 700mL bottles at 56.5% ABV (113°), it carries a suggested price of $69.99.

 

So, how does it taste? Thankfully, Remus Bourbon was kind enough to send me a sample in exchange for my no-strings-attached, honest review. Let’s #DrinkCurious and find out.

 

• Whiskey Type: Wheat Whiskey
• Distiller: Ross & Squibb
• Age: 9 years
• Mashbill: 95% wheat, 5% malted barley
• Cooperage: Aged 53-gallon new, charred oak barrels, then finished in Tawny Port, White Port, Oloroso Sherry, and Ruby Port casks
• Alcohol Content: 56.5% ABV (113°)
• Price per 700mL: $69.99

 

Appearance: I used a Glencairn glass to explore this whiskey neat. The topaz-colored liquid formed a medium-thick rim with thick, crazed tears.

 

Nose: After allowing 15 minutes for acclimation, I began my nosing journey. Holy cow, there is a ton of chocolate to contend with (and I’m not complaining)! I also found candied nuts, fried plantains, and brown sugar. Pulling the air through my lips revealed dense milk chocolate.

 

Palate: I encountered a rich, creamy mouthfeel that offered a quick, peppery palate shock. With the second sip, it was as if someone gave me a Hershey’s bar and asked me to down it as quickly as I could. Intense milk chocolate, ripe plums, and dried apricots commanded my attention on the front. Notes of fried plantains, honey, and candied pecans hit my mid-palate, while the back featured flavors of hazelnuts, leather, and clove.

 

Finish: Blueberries, dried apricots, plums, fried plantains, honey, and, of course, milk chocolate coated my tongue and throat. Clove waved its arms furiously, trying not to get lost in the crowd (and failed). The finish started strong, then fell off quickly, and finally became a somewhat gentle decline. Initially, I thought it was very short due to that initial cliff jump; however, my stopwatch indicated a longer duration of 1:43.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: People can become confused when drinking Wheat Whiskey because they expect wheated Bourbon. Distilled wheat is tasteless; with Bourbon, it softens and rounds out the other grains. Wheat whiskeys, on the other hand, are typically spicy because all they have to work with is wood and, in the case of Series No. 2, a sprinkling of malted barley.

 

With this whiskey, clove was the only real spicy note. The fortified wines took center stage; it was easy to identify their various influences. Yet, the base whiskey was still evident.

 

In many ways, Master Distiller Experimental Series No. 2 is a dessert whiskey. It was sweet, fruity, and a chocolate bomb. At 113°, I anticipated more heft from the alcohol. That never materialized, making this one of those dangerous whiskeys because it is such an easy sipper that you’ll have trouble when you try to stand up.

 

Nine years at this proof for only $70.00 is almost a bargain. Unless you dislike chocolate and fruits, you’re going to love it as much as I did. My Bottle rating is well-earned. I’m thrilled to have this in my whiskey library.

 

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.