Remus Repeal Reserve Series X Bourbon & Inaugural Rye Review

 

If it is September, then it’s limited-edition Bourbon release month… [checks calendar]… and yes, it is September!

 

George Remus was an American icon. Oh, maybe not the best example of a decent person (in fact, he was one of the worst), but he was, nonetheless, an icon. He was known as King of the Bootleggers. Remus was a criminal defense attorney. Some of his clients were bootleggers; most of them were murderers, and he got a green tint in his eye watching his bootlegging clients make a fortune. One day, he decided he knew more about the criminal justice system than anyone else, and he could make a ton of money by using his legal knowledge to engage in illegal activities without falling prey to the authorities.

 

George was, indeed, very clever. He found a loophole in the Volstead Act that allowed him to buy distilleries and distill medicinal whiskey. He wound up buying most of the operating distilleries in and around Cincinnati, and his schtick was having his employees hijack his finished product, which he then resold on the black market.

 

George discovered that he wasn’t as clever as he thought, as the government indicted him on thousands of violations of the Volstead Act, and a jury quickly convicted him. They sent him to the federal pokey in Atlanta.

 

The story gets even better. George buddied up to a fellow prisoner and bragged about how his wife controlled all of his money. What he didn’t know was that his new pal was an undercover agent named Franklin Dodge. Dodge then resigned his position and started an affair with George’s wife. The two “fell in love” and began selling off George’s assets, leaving him with a mere $100.

 

But wait, there’s more! George was on his way to court for his divorce proceeding when he chased down his ex-wife’s car, got out, and shot her to death in true gangster fashion. He pleaded insanity, and the jury believed him, taking less than twenty minutes to deliver the verdict.

 

What a swell guy, right? Regardless, he was still known as King of the Bootleggers, and Luxco uses his name for its premium house brand: Remus Bourbon.

 

Remus Repeal Reserve is one of those annual allocated whiskeys I look forward to. I’ve been blessed to have reviewed several Remus Repeal Reserve Bourbons. They vary widely, but two standouts have been Series V (2021) and Series IX (2025).

 

And now, for 2026, there’s something very special: Series X and its first-ever Remus Repeal Reserve Rye!

 

“Series X captures everything the Repeal Reserve collection has stood for over the last ten years, pushing the boundaries of what a blended bourbon can be while honoring the history behind it, and with our first-ever rye, we get to show a different side of our expertise. We’re proud to share both releases as a true reflection of our craft.” - Ian Stirsman, Master Distiller at MGP

 

The 2026 Bourbon release is the highest proof of the series, weighing in at 53.5% ABV (107°). That’s a full 3 points higher than Series IX, which, incidentally, was 3 points higher than Series VIII. It is also made from 3 of MGP’s mashbills distilled between 2008 and 2017, versus the normal dual mashbill. Here’s the crazy thing – Series X is $20.00 less than the previous several years’ offerings!

 

Now, let’s address the inaugural Rye. It comes in at an even higher 55.5% ABV (111°) and is made from MGP’s 95/5 Rye mashbill, 60% from 2015 and 40% from 2016. It also comes with a $79.99 price tag.

 

How will Series X rank? Is the Rye worthy of the name Remus Repeal Reserve? These questions and more are coming your way shortly, thanks to the generosity of samples from Luxco in exchange for my no-strings-attached, honest reviews. Let’s #DrinkCurious and find out!

 

To avoid repetition, I used a fresh Glencairn glass and let each rest about 15 minutes before tasting.

 

 

Remus Repeal Reserve Bourbon Series X

 

• Whiskey Type: Straight Bourbon
• Distiller: MGP
• Age: NAS (based on the blend, 9 years)
• Mashbill: A blend of:
• 2008: 75% corn, 21% rye, 4% malted barley (14%)
• 2016: 75% corn, 21% rye, 4% malted barley (15%)
• 2014: 60% corn, 36% rye, 4% malted barley (19%)
• 2016: 60% corn, 36% rye, 4% malted barley (35%)
• 2017: 51% corn, 49% rye (17%)
• Cooperage: New, 53-gallon charred oak barrels
• Alcohol Content: 53.5% ABV (107°)
• Price per 750mL: $79.99
• Non-chill filtered

 

Appearance: The Bourbon had an opaque, cinnamon appearance. A thick rim produced thick, randomly spaced, fast tears.

 

Nose: As I began sniffing, I encountered toffee, caramel, fudge, roasted almonds, and toasted oak. When I drew the air through my lips, I tasted fudge.

 

Palate: On my first sip, I found a creamy texture with a strong cherry presence; the next sip revealed cocoa, honey-roasted almonds, and coconut macaroons on the front. My mid-palate plucked notes of cherries, fudge, and toffee. The back included French oak, black pepper, and clove.

 

Finish: What remained in my mouth and throat included fudge, cherries, honey-roasted almonds, French oak, cinnamon spice, and caramel. The finish had a slight incline, crescendoing at 41 seconds, then slowly faded until 1:14, making for a medium duration.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: There was a lot of character development with Series X; perhaps that’s due to the higher proof? In the now 8 expressions of Remus Repeal Reserve that I’ve tried, I don’t recall ever listing fudge as a note, and it appeared on the nose, palate, and finish.

 

The cherry notes stood out and weren’t overwhelmed by the fudge or the spice flavors. The entire experience involved a dance between sweet, fruity, and spicy sensations.

 

If I struggled, my only complaint would be the length of the finish. I wanted it to last longer, only because I was enjoying what was going on in my mouth.

 

Honestly, I would have paid the $99.99 that Remus Repeal Reserve cost in the last several years. The fact that it is $20.00 less is a nice bonus. Really… more proof, less money, great taste… what more do you want? My Bottle rating is almost required.  

 

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Remus Repeal Reserve Rye

 

 

• Whiskey Type: Straight American Rye
• Distiller: MGP
• Age: 10 years
• Mashbill: A blend of:
• 2015: 95% rye, 5% malted barley (60%)
• 2016: 95% rye, 5% malted barley (40%)
• Cooperage: New, 53-gallon charred oak barrels
• Alcohol Content: 55% ABV (110°)
• Price per 750mL: $79.99
• Non-chill filtered

 

Appearance: The whiskey had a rusty brown hue, and it formed a thick rim with husky, crazed tears.

 

Nose: When I began exploring the nose, my olfactory sense detected cinnamon, wintergreen, rye spice, vanilla, and fresh leather. I pulled the aroma through my lips and tasted earth.

 

Palate: I found this Rye to have a velvety mouthfeel, along with a shock of rye. The second sip unveiled dark roast coffee, leather, and toffee on the front of my palate. Fennel, spearmint, and tobacco came next. The back featured earth, rye spice, and caramel.

 

Finish: That earthy note permeated my tongue. I don’t mean it coated my tongue; it seemed to breach the skin. At the same time, toffee, leather, fennel, dark chocolate, and cinnamon distracted me. The finish could best be described as long and mild, lasting 1:31.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: I found Remus Repeal Reserve Rye to be confusing. There are several instances where you can tell where a whiskey – any whiskey – is heading, and this one defied that notion. With how strong the wintergreen was in the aroma, I wrongly assumed it would dominate and, in fact, it was nowhere on the palate; the only mintiness was spearmint, and it wasn’t the star of the show.

 

Despite the stated proof, I didn’t experience any alcohol burn. It drank much closer to something at 45% ABV (90°) or perhaps a few points higher. That vast a difference is unusual, to say the least. I also find that attractive.

 

Ignoring the fact that I’m not a fan of fennel or any spice that’s fennel-like (anise, black licorice, and tarragon), I very much enjoyed what was in my glass. The price is well worth the investment, and it earns my Bottle rating.

 

 

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Final Thoughts: I would shoehorn Series X into the Top 3 of the Remus Repeal Reserve releases. Time will tell how it ranks against Series IX and Series V. Thankfully, I still have a bit of each to do a few head-to-head comparisons.

 

Screw that! I pulled out a small sample of each. On the nose, Series X was a clear winner, while Series IX beat the trio on mouthfeel. Series X had the most character, but Series V won on the finish. I don’t know; I can’t decide. Let’s just say they’re all pretty awesome!

 

MGP is a Rye whiskey powerhouse. During the last boom, while distilleries were busy making Bourbon, they sourced Rye, and it almost exclusively came from MGP. The inaugural release was way off-profile and seems to match the wackiness of George Remus. 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.