12th Annual BourbonGuy.com Brackets: The Championship Rounds

Welcome back, folks! We are now at the end of the 2025 contest. Eight whiskeys entered the arena. Four have fallen by the wayside. There have been some delicious treats, with not a single stinker in the bunch. Let’s see how it all ends and if we’ve learned anything along the way. First, we have the Round Two matchups.

Division 2: Gleaming Pancake (Jeppson’s 100 Proof Bourbon) vs. Lumpy Telescope (Maker’s Mark)

Pre-Reveal Thoughts: As I go back and forth nosing these, I'm always amazed at how the comparison allows you to sense different notes. When Lumpy Telescope was being compared to Soggy Parrot, there was no hint of the smoky maple on the nose that I'm getting now that it is being compared to Gleaming Pancake. This is why the "real" tasting notes I do are always done with a clean palate.

Both of these are quite tasty in the mouth. However, the softer mouthfeel of Gleaming Pancake and the baking spice is a little nicer than the slightly bitter stone fruit notes of Lumpy Telescope.

Winner: Gleaming Pancake (Jeppson’s 100 Proof Bourbon) moves on to the Championship Round on the softer mouthfeel and baking spice.

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Division 1: Rusty Marshmallow (Old Bardstown) vs. Wobbly Cactus (Jim Beam Black)

Pre-Reveal Thoughts: Not a ton of difference on the nose between these, with Rusty Marshmallow being slightly more vibrant. As for the mouth and finish, it seems that I like whichever I’ve had last. The cinnamon roll notes of Rusty Marshmallow are delicious. But what puts it over the edge is that I like its finish better. Tough one.

Winner: Rusty Marshmallow (Old Bardstown) moves on to the Championship Round on the strength of that cinnamon roll note.

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Championship Round: Rusty Marshmallow (Old Bardstown) vs. Gleaming Pancake (Jeppson’s 100 Proof Bourbon)

Pre-Reveal Thoughts: On the nose, Rusty Marshmallow is slightly more interesting. A little breadier. Not better, but more interesting. Still tied as we head into the mouth and finish. I must be really into cinnamon spice notes right now because both of these have that in spades on the mouth and finish. Damn! This one is tough. At the end of the day, Rusty Marshmallow just had slightly more flavor than Gleaming Pancake, and since both were delicious, I'll use that as the tie-breaker.

Winner: Rusty Marshmallow (Old Bardstown)

Congrats to Old Bardstown, the 2025 BourbonGuy.com Bracket Champion!

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This was an interesting contest for me. I knew going in that there was only one bourbon that I might need to brace myself for before taking the first sip. Unfortunately for me, I had no idea when or where that one would show up. But luckily, every one of the bourbons was good. I don’t think I’d say there was anything in here that would warrant a “meh/neutral” rating if it were being tasted alone, which makes the contest so much fun as a taster. Though, seeing my reactions to bad whiskey might have been more entertaining as a reader.

So, what did I learn about each of these?

First off, the winner—Old Bardstown. I’m not sure that when I started this project 12 years ago, I would have ever expected a craft bourbon to be in the contest, much less win it. Twelve years ago, small distilleries were almost exclusively more expensive and lower quality than the big guys. At that point, the idea that a small distiller could compete with the big brands on price was ludicrous. Plus, most of them just didn’t taste as good. That has changed over the years, and I’m very happy to see it.

Moving over to the other Championship contender, Jeppson’s 100 Proof Bourbon was the bottle that I thought I might need to dump after the competition was over. I wouldn’t mean to, and I’d swear during the competition that it was pretty okay. But I’d never reach for it and would eventually dump it when I needed the shelf space. That’s what I thought I’d be writing here. But no—this was a decent bourbon. And since it is likely a blend of MGP and Dickel, based on the listed states of distillation, that’s no surprise. A Dickel bourbon won last year, so it’s not surprising that one made from it would go far this year too.

Benchmark Bonded was one that I was surprised to see knocked out in the first round. I hadn’t had it before, but I’d had the old 90-proof Benchmark and enjoyed it. I also picked up the Benchmark Full Proof back in September as well. Really enjoyed that too. I fully expected that the 100-proof version of Benchmark would go far. A probable contender. If forced to put money on a winner, this would have been the one I’d have chosen to win its division.

Maker’s Mark is the other one that I would have chosen to win its division. I really like Maker’s Mark and would have guessed I’d have liked it better than Larceny, Old Forester, and something I’d never heard of before. Not much for me to learn here. I just really like it.

These days, when I think of Larceny, I usually think of the Barrel Proof version that I get samples of a few times per year. I almost never think of the standard 92-proof version. I had a bottle that tasted funny a few years back, and it put me off of it for a while. I enjoyed it here, but there was no way that it was going to beat one of my favorite bourbons. It got a bad draw and suffered from it. I wonder how it would have fared if Larceny and Jim Beam Black had switched spots so it could have gone up against the final wheated bourbon.

Speak of the Devil, Rebel 100 is the final wheated bourbon in the contest. I had really wanted to find one more sub-$25 wheated bourbon so I could have wheated and non-wheated divisions, but alas, there aren’t that many wheated bourbons on the market, and even fewer that are affordable. If memory serves, I think Buffalo Trace might be the only other “big guy” to regularly produce one. And good luck getting anything that shares a mash bill with Pappy out of there without it costing an arm and a leg.

Jim Beam Black is a good bourbon. For some reason, I never buy it, but it is a good bourbon. The issue is that I usually need to be in the mood for it. And I don’t drink enough these days to have “change of pace” bourbons on my shelf.

Finally, Old Forester 86 is also a great bourbon. Personally, I prefer its higher-proof cousins, though. The 100 proof is delicious, and the Whiskey Row Series is just phenomenal. But 86 proof is nothing to sneeze at.

Now that we are done, it’s time to turn the page to the future. Next week, we will look at the samples that have been stacking up while the contest was going on. As much fun as this was, it’s fun to try new bourbons too.

Once again, congrats to Willett and Old Bardstown on their 2025 Championship!

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12th Annual BourbonGuy.com Brackets: Round 1: Benchmark Bonded vs Old Bardstown

Welcome to the fourth and final matchup of Round One for the 2025 BourbonGuy.com Brackets. These were tasted in an order only known to my wife as another bit of obfuscation to hide what was being tasted. Tonight, Division 1’s Number 1 seed, Benchmark Bonded, takes on Number 4 seed, Old Bardstown.

Benchmark Bonded is a product of the Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, KY. This bottle was purchased in September 2024 at Binny’s Beverage Depot in Chicago, IL, for $19.99 for a 750 mL bottle or $1.33 per pour.

Their opponent is Old Bardstown. A product of the Willett Distillery in Bardstown, KY, it is the only true craft bourbon in the competition. This bottle was purchased at South Lyndale Liquor in Minneapolis, MN, for $21.99 for a 750 mL bottle or $1.47 per pour.

All of the competitions this year were tasted blind, and we knew the winner of the competition prior to any reveal. Notes, thoughts, and conclusions were all recorded before we knew which bourbon was which. Needless to say, some of my conclusions were surprising to me. Tasting notes may be a little unusual since they were tasted side by side and will have influenced the perception of one another.

Rusty Marshmallow (Old Bardstown)

Price Per Drink (50 mL): $1.47

Details: 45% ABV

Nose: Vanilla, red fruit, and a touch of oak

Mouth: Strong cinnamon spice notes followed by caramel and bread notes. Reminds me of a good cinnamon roll

Finish: Warm and on the longer side of medium. Good cinnamon spice notes

Baffled Toaster (Benchmark Bonded)

Price Per Drink (50 mL): $1.33

Details: 50% ABV

Nose: Brown sugar, apple, and oak

Mouth: Cinnamon, clove, toffee, apple, and leather

Finish: Medium in warmth and length, with notes of cinnamon, clove, and toffee

Thoughts:

Pre-Reveal Thoughts: Here’s another close one. Baffled Toaster is delicious—I’m really digging the apple notes. However, that cinnamon spice on Rusty Marshmallow is just calling to me. My favorite dessert is a great cinnamon roll, and this captures that.

Post-Reveal Thoughts: Another surprising result. Not only is there the David vs. Goliath angle of Willett vs. Buffalo Trace, but there’s also the proof difference between the pair. But one thing that isn’t surprising is that Willett turned out to be the giant slayer. They’ve been releasing sought-after bourbons for decades, even if they only started putting out products they distilled themselves about 10 years ago.

Winner: Old Bardstown is advancing to round 2.

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12th Annual BourbonGuy.com Brackets: Round 1: Larceny vs Maker’s Mark

Welcome to the third matchup of Round One for the 2025 BourbonGuy.com Brackets. These were tasted in an order only known to my wife as another bit of obfuscation to hide what was being tasted. Tonight, Division 2’s Number 3 seed, Maker’s Mark, takes on Number 2 seed, Larceny Bourbon.

Maker’s Mark is possibly the most famous bottle of bourbon there is. It is available everywhere. The look is iconic and has remained relatively unchanged for over 60 years. It is distilled at the beautiful Maker’s Mark Distillery in Loretto, KY. Honestly, if you haven’t visited, add it to your bucket list. It is the second of the three wheated bourbons in the competition. This bottle was purchased at Viking Liquor Barrel in Prior Lake, MN, for $24.97 for a 750 mL bottle or $1.66 per pour, making it the most expensive bourbon in the competition.

Their opponent is the last wheated bourbon in the competition. That’s right—it’s a wheated-on-wheated matchup. Larceny Bourbon is produced by Heaven Hill out of Bardstown, KY. This bottle was purchased at Total Wine in Burnsville, MN, for $22.99 for a 750 mL bottle or $1.53 per pour.

All of the competitions this year were tasted blind, and we knew the winner of the competition prior to any reveal. Notes, thoughts, and conclusions were all recorded before we knew which bourbon was which. Needless to say, some of my conclusions were surprising to me. Tasting notes may be a little unusual since they were tasted side by side and will have influenced the perception of one another.

Lumpy Telescope (Maker’s Mark)

Price Per Drink (50 mL): $1.66

Details: 45% ABV

Nose: Stone fruit, dusty oak, and a touch of caramel

Mouth: Sweet and fruity, with notes of stone fruit and caramel

Finish: Medium length with sweet, fruity, and cinnamon notes

Soggy Parrot (Larceny)

Price Per Drink (50 mL): $1.53

Details: 46% ABV

Nose: Muted. Can't pick up much beyond light caramel, vanilla, and oak

Mouth: Oak, toasted nuts

Finish: Gentle with a nice bitterness

Thoughts:

Pre-Reveal Thoughts: f these were matched against other opponents, they might have both advanced. However, I have a bit of a sweet tooth when it comes to bourbon. For that reason, Lumpy Telescope advances.

Post-Reveal Thoughts: No surprises here. I’ve long said that Maker’s Mark is my favorite wheated bourbon. Plus, it is the highest-priced product in the contest. If it is worth the price being asked, it should win, especially if the proof and age difference are negligible.

Winner: Maker’s Mark is advancing to round 2.

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12th Annual BourbonGuy.com Brackets: Round 1: Rebel 100 vs Jim Beam Black

Welcome to the second matchup of Round One for the 2025 BourbonGuy.com Brackets. These were tasted in an order only known to my wife as another bit of obfuscation to hide what was being tasted. Tonight, Division 1’s Number 3 seed, Jim Beam Black, takes on Number 2 seed, Rebel 100.

Jim Beam Black is the extra-aged and higher-proof version of their flagship White Label bourbon. It is a product of the Jim Beam Distillery in Clermont, KY. Beam Black recently regained an age statement of seven years. It was purchased at Total Wine in Burnsville, MN, for $20.99 per bottle or $1.40 per pour.

Their opponent is the first wheated bourbon in the competition. Rebel 100 is produced by Lux Row Distillery in Bardstown, KY. This bottle was purchased at Viking Liquor Barrel in Prior Lake, MN, for $17.09 for a 750 mL bottle or $1.14 per pour, making it the least expensive of the contestants in this year’s competition.

All of the competitions this year were tasted blind, and we knew the winner of the competition prior to any reveal. Notes, thoughts, and conclusions were all recorded before we knew which bourbon was which. Needless to say, some of my conclusions were surprising to me. Tasting notes may be a little unusual since they were tasted side by side and will have influenced the perception of one another.

Wobbly Cactus (Jim Beam Black)

Price Per Drink (50 mL): $1.40

Details: 45% ABV

Nose: Cedar, circus peanuts, and oak.

Mouth: Juicy Fruit gum, baking spice, cedar, and oak.

Finish: On the shorter side of medium and follows the mouth with notes of fruit and baking spice.

Grumpy Cloud (Rebel 100)

Price Per Drink (50 mL): $1.14

Details: 50% ABV

Nose: Milk chocolate and cinnamon candies.

Mouth: Milk chocolate, cinnamon, and black tea.

Finish: Shorter side of medium, with notes of milk chocolate, oak, and cinnamon.

Thoughts:

Pre-Reveal Thoughts: Both noses are great. The mouths are good alone, but do not play nice with each other (not that they should, but still). I like both of these, but in a squeaker, Wobbly Cactus advances.

Post-Reveal Thoughts: I’m both surprised by this result and not surprised at all. I buy Rebel 100 a lot more often than I do Beam Black, so I thought I liked that one more. But I’m not surprised that the one with the age statement won. Age statements describe the youngest bourbon in the bottle, so the youngest bourbon in Jim Beam Black is possibly older than the oldest in Rebel 100. But proof has been proven in previous years to beat age (within reason) most of the time.

And then there’s the wheated versus rye bourbon aspect of the contest. But I usually prefer rye bourbons over wheated bourbons, so that part isn’t surprising.

Winner: Jim Beam Black is advancing to round 2.

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If you want to support our work at BourbonGuy.com, please consider a one-time donation at ko-fi.com/bourbonguy or paypal.me/BourbonGuy. Or you could buy some merch that I’ve designed and/or built (tasting journals, t-shirts, stickers, pins, signs, posters, and more) at BourbonGuyGifts.com. Use code BOURBONGUYREADER at checkout for 5% off any order of $50 or more.

12th Annual BourbonGuy.com Brackets: Round 1: Old Forester 86 proof vs Jeppson’s Bourbon 100 proof

Here we go! Let’s get down to the competitions. I hope that you guys are as excited about this as I am. These were tasted in an order only known to my wife as another bit of obfuscation to hide what was being tasted. So Round 1 of the 2025 BourbonGuy.com Brackets starts with Division 2’s Number 4 seed, Old Forester, taking on Number 1 seed, Jeppson’s 100 Proof Bourbon.

Old Forester, the country’s first bottled bourbon, is a product of Brown-Forman in Louisville, KY. It shares a corporate umbrella with Woodford Reserve and Jack Daniel’s. This 86-proof version is their entry-level Old Forester. It was purchased at Viking Liquor Barrel (Prior Lake, MN) for $22.49 per bottle or $1.66 per pour.

Their opponent is a bourbon that I’ve never had before. In fact, I didn’t even know it existed before going shopping for this competition. Jeppson’s 100 Proof Bourbon is a sourced bourbon from the folks in Chicago that bring you Malört. If you know anything about Malört, you can see why this gave me pause. It was sourced from distilleries in both Indiana and Tennessee. This bottle was purchased at South Lyndale Liquor in Minneapolis, MN, for $19.99 for a 750 mL bottle or $1.33 per pour.

All of the competitions this year were tasted blind, and we knew the winner of the competition prior to any reveal. Notes, thoughts, and conclusions were all recorded before we knew which bourbon was which. Needless to say, some of my conclusions were surprising to me. Tasting notes may be a little unusual since they were tasted side by side and will have influenced the perception of one another.

Zesty Doorknob (Old Forester 86 proof)

Price Per Drink (50 mL): $1.66

Details: 43% ABV

Nose: Vanilla sugar, red fruit, a touch of baking spice

Mouth: Oak, red fruit, and baking spice

Finish: Medium in length and warmth. Notes of oak and baking spice

Gleaming Pancake (Jeppson’s Bourbon 100 Proof)

Price Per Drink (50 mL): $1.33

Details: 50% ABV

Nose: Dusty oak and a nice mineral note. It’s reminding me a bit of an old garage

Mouth: Soft in the mouth. Cinnamon, caramel, and oak

Finish: On the longer side of medium, with notes of almond, oak, and baking spice

Thoughts:

Pre-Reveal Thoughts: Gleaming Pancake is much softer on the mouth with a nicer mouthfeel. Zesty Doorknob is a bit harsher. Flavors are decent on both, but I like Gleaming Pancake more.

Post-Reveal Thoughts: I’m a bit surprised by this one. Not because of an upset or anything—I mean, usually, proof beats price in these matchups, and that happened again. But instead, because the lower-priced one was a sourced whiskey. Adding a middleman usually increases the price. Also, since the Jeppson’s name is most well known for Malört—a spirit marketed as being really unpleasant to drink—I did not have high hopes for this one. But that’s why we do this blind.

Winner: Jeppson’s 100 Proof Bourbon is advancing to round 2.

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If you want to support our work at BourbonGuy.com, please consider a one-time donation at ko-fi.com/bourbonguy or paypal.me/BourbonGuy. Or you could buy some merch that I’ve designed and/or built (tasting journals, t-shirts, stickers, pins, signs, posters, and more) at BourbonGuyGifts.com. Use code BOURBONGUYREADER at checkout for 5% off any order of $50 or more.

12th Annual BourbonGuy.com Brackets: The “Man, It’s Getting Hard to Find Things Under $25” Edition

You know what time it is! The NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament has already started, which means everyone is in Bracket Mode. It really is a wonderful time of year. Up here in the northernmost state in the contiguous U.S., the snow is still trying to fall, though the end is in sight. Gardeners have started their seeds, there are days when the windows can be opened, and, of course, there are brackets to be filled out—and busted.

No, not those silly basketball or hockey brackets. We’re talking Bourbon Brackets. And let me tell you, this really is my favorite time of year. In fact, I enjoy it so much that whenever I decide to hang up the ol’ keyboard, I already know what my last series of posts will be: brackets. But don’t worry—that’s a ways off yet. I’d like to make it to at least 15 years of publishing first.

And let me tell you, this year’s competition is a good one. Of the seven major bourbon producers that existed when I started this site (Beam/Maker’s, Buffalo Trace/Barton, MGP (now including Lux Row), Heaven Hill, Four Roses, Wild Turkey, and Brown-Forman), five are represented this year. The other two have been featured often enough that I used their spots for some newer faces.

The Selection Rules

This year’s selection process was simple:

• The bourbon had to be in a 750 mL bottle

• It had to cost under $25

That’s it!

For seeding, I sorted by proof first, followed by stated age (if applicable), and then used price as the final tiebreaker. Here’s what that got us:

Division 1

• Seed 1: Benchmark Bonded

  • A reader suggestion from last year. It's not available in Minnesota (that I’ve seen), so I grabbed it at Binny’s Beverage Depot in Chicago for $19.99 back in September of 2024. 100 proof.

  • Nonsense name: Baffled Toaster

• Seed 2: Rebel 100

  • The first of three wheated bourbons in the competition—and the cheapest of the three 100-proof bottles.

  • Purchased at Viking Liquor Barrel (Prior Lake, MN) for $17.09.

  • Nonsense name: Grumpy Cloud

• Seed 3: Jim Beam Black

  • The newly age-stated 7-year-old version, bottled at 90 proof.

  • Purchased at Total Wine (Burnsville, MN) for $20.99.

  • Nonsense name: Wobbly Cactus

• Seed 4: Old Bardstown

  • The only true craft whiskey in the contest, distilled by Willett in Bardstown, KY, and bottled at 90 proof.

  • Purchased at South Lyndale Liquor (Minneapolis, MN) for $21.99.

  • Nonsense name: Rusty Marshmallow

Division 2

• Seed 1: Jeppson’s 100 Proof

  • A sourced bourbon from the folks in Chicago who make Malört.

  • Purchased at South Lyndale Liquor (Minneapolis, MN) for $19.99.

  • Nonsense name: Gleaming Pancake

• Seed 2: Larceny Bourbon

  • The second of three wheated bourbons, coming in at 92 proof.

  • Purchased at Total Wine (Burnsville, MN) for $22.99.

  • Nonsense name: Soggy Parrot

• Seed 3: Maker’s Mark Bourbon

  • The final wheated bourbon in the contest—also the lowest proof (90 proof) and highest price of the three.

  • Purchased at Viking Liquor Barrel (Prior Lake, MN) for $24.97.

  • Nonsense name: Lumpy Telescope

• Seed 4: Old Forester 86 Proof

  • The lowest proof of the contest, making it the lowest seed.

  • Purchased at Viking Liquor Barrel (Prior Lake, MN) for $22.49.

  • Nonsense name: Zesty Doorknob

Keeping It Blind: The Setup

Of course, that list doesn’t eliminate inherent bias, does it? So, as usual, we took a few extra steps to keep the tasting blind—while still keeping track of what advanced.

Here’s how we set it up (it’s an oh-so-simple process):

1. I seeded the whiskey in the bracket as listed above.

2. I poured 200 mL bottles of each bourbon and labeled them with their nonsense names.

3. I made a separate bracket using only the nonsense names and handed it, along with the bottles, to my wife.

From there, she takes over.

• She doesn’t know what’s in each bottle (thanks to the nonsense names).

• She pours and keeps track of the winners.

• All I have to do is taste, write, and pick my favorite. It’s a pretty slick system.

The empty bracket is below, and as usual, there were plenty of storylines and surprises along the way—wheated matchups, high proof vs. low proof, price battles, and more. But that’s for the future. In the meantime, who you got? Let us know down in the comments!

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If you want to support our work at BourbonGuy.com, please consider a one-time donation at ko-fi.com/bourbonguy or paypal.me/BourbonGuy. Or you could buy some merch that I’ve designed and/or built (tasting journals, t-shirts, stickers, pins, signs, posters, and more) at BourbonGuyGifts.com. Use code BOURBONGUYREADER at checkout for 5% off any order of $50 or more.

Rebel Bourbon: Kyle Busch 108 Single Barrel Bourbon

I’d like to thank ByrnePR and Lux Row for providing this review sample with no strings attached.

It’s bonus post time! I’m trying to clear out the last of the samples prior to starting the BourbonGuy Brackets series next week. I am also sick as a damned dog right now so all you get is a press release to go along with the tasting notes I did prior to getting sick. But hey, it’s a bonus post anyway, right?

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Rebel Bourbon rolls out Kyle Busch 108 Single Barrel Bourbon

One-of-a-kind bourbon release takes the Rebel sponsorship of Richard Childress Racing to a new level

 ST. LOUIS (Feb. 26, 2025) – Bardstown, Kentucky-based Rebel Bourbon – the Official Bourbon of Richard Childress Racing – announced the limited-edition release of Kyle Busch 108 Single Barrel Bourbon. Every barrel was selected by two-time NASCAR Cup Series Champion Kyle “Rowdy” Busch and bottled at 108 proof (54% ABV) in honor of Rebel’s sponsorship of RCR.

The new limited-edition release is handcrafted according to Rebel’s original time-honored wheated recipe since 1849 and aged for a full four years to provide robust flavor and a velvety smooth finish with a hint of spice. An allocation of 5,000 cases (6-in) of Kyle Busch 108 Single Barrel is available nationwide at a suggested minimum retail price of $39.99 per 750mL bottle. 

“We wanted to do something we’ve never done before, in the spirit of living against the grain and doing things your own way, and KB 108 is the perfect answer,” said Philip Lux, Rebel Bourbon brand manager. “Kyle selected every barrel for this one-of-a-kind release with the guidance of Master Distiller John Rempe. Each barrel was hand-bottled, giving each bottle a bit of rebellious character and a flavor profile to match! This special release is made to be enjoyed by collectors and fans of Rebel, Kyle and RCR alike.”

Every bottle’s front label includes prominent placement of the unique barrel number selected by Busch, plus the bourbon’s proof and “aged since” date details. The distinctive label also includes Busch’s signature, number and the RCR logo. 

“This sponsorship really is about living life with a rebellious spirit, and I had fun picking barrels on my own terms for this special limited-edition release,” said Busch. “I’m proud to have my name on every bottle and excited for fans nationwide to experience something new from Rebel Bourbon and RCR.”

 Rebel Bourbon has plans for more excitement and fan fun ahead in 2025, and the release of Kyle Busch 108 Single Barrel takes the sponsorship’s momentum to a new level. Rebel is a multi-race sponsor of the No. 8 Chevrolet and Busch with an all-new paint scheme born from American white oak Rebel Bourbon barrels and designed to honor the brand’s craftsmanship. Busch takes the wheel of the No. 8 Rebel Bourbon Chevrolet in select NASCAR Cup Series races including the EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix March 2 in Austin, Texas. To learn more about Rebel-RCR news and events in race markets, follow Rebel on Facebook and Instagram, and RCR on Facebook and Instagram, and visit RebelBourbon.com and RCRRacing.com. Use the product locator to find Rebel Bourbon products in specific locations.

 Rebel Bourbon and Richard Childress Racing remind everyone 21 and older to drink responsibly – and never drink and drive.

 About Luxco:

Founded in St. Louis in 1958 by the Lux Family, Luxco is a leading producer, supplier, importer and bottler of beverage alcohol products. Our mission is to meet the needs and exceed the expectations of consumers, associates and business partners. Merged with MGP Ingredients, Inc. in 2021 (Nasdaq: MGPI), Luxco operates as MGP’s Brands Division and manages all MGP/Luxco brands. This extensive and award-winning spirits portfolio includes well-known brands from four distilleries: Bardstown, Kentucky-based Lux Row Distillers, home of Ezra Brooks, Rebel, Blood Oath, David Nicholson and Daviess County; Lebanon, Kentucky-based Limestone Branch Distillery, maker of Yellowstone Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Minor Case Straight Rye Whiskey and Bowling & Burch Gin; Jalisco, Mexico-based Destiladora Gonzalez Lux, producer of 100% agave tequilas, El Mayor, Exotico and Dos Primos; and Ross & Squibb Distillery in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, where Remus Straight Bourbon Whiskey and Rossville Union Straight Rye Whiskey are produced. The innovative and high-quality brand portfolio also includes Penelope Bourbon, Everclear Grain Alcohol, Pearl Vodka, Saint Brendan’s Irish Cream, The Quiet Man Irish Whiskey, Green Hat Gin and other well-recognized brands. For more information about the company and its brands, visit luxco.com.

About Richard Childress Racing:

Richard Childress Racing (www.rcrracing.com) is a renowned, performance-driven racing, marketing and manufacturing organization. Incorporated in 1969, RCR has celebrated over 50 years of racing and earned more than 200 victories and 16 championships, including six in the NASCAR Cup Series with the legendary Dale Earnhardt. RCR was the first organization to win championships in the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR Truck Series and is a three-time winner of the Daytona 500 (1998, 2007, 2018). Its 2025 NASCAR Cup Series lineup includes two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Busch (No. 8 Chevrolet) and 2017 Coca-Cola 600 winner and 2018 Daytona 500 champion Austin Dillon (No. 3 Chevrolet). RCR fields a full-time NASCAR Xfinity Series program with Jesse Love (No. 2 Chevrolet) and Austin Hill (No. 21 Chevrolet).

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Rebel Bourbon: Kyle Busch 108 Single Barrel Bourbon

Purchase Info: This sample was provided for review purposes at no cost. A 750 mL bottle at the suggested retail price is $39.99.

Price per Drink (50 mL): $2.67

Details: 54% ABV. Wheated bourbon.

Nose: Vanilla, oak, cedar, and cinnamon.

Mouth: Baking spice, cherry, caramel, and oak.

Finish: Medium length and warm. Notes of cherry cola, cinnamon, and a touch of mint.

Thoughts: This is spicy and delicious. There is oak throughout, but not overpoweringly so. The cherry cola on the mouth and finish are lovely. I'm quite happy to have this in my glass.

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Lux Row Small Batch PX Sherry Cask Finish

I’d like to thank ByrnePR and Lux Row for providing this review sample with no strings attached.

My wife is just getting over a pretty nasty cold. She was extremely sick all last week and only just started feeling better. I was there as her caregiver and smile provider, doing my best to help her feel a little less miserable. I even broke out my Russian Tea recipe to help her along. Of course, the entire time, I was hoping I wouldn’t catch it while also preparing for the worst. It felt like watching a slow-moving car crash I couldn’t avoid.

Since it’s BourbonGuy Bracket season (starting next week), I crammed a month’s worth of tastings into the last week or so—just in case I ended up down for the count. And it’s a good thing I did. This morning, the scratchy throat started. Here’s hoping a nice glass of bourbon will help soothe it.

But before I did the Bracket tastings, I worked through the samples for this week. First up: Lux Row Small Batch PX Sherry Cask Finish. Debuting in October 2024, this small batch bourbon is now available nationwide for a suggested retail price of $49.99.

Before we get into what the company has to say about their new bourbon, let’s talk about the cask it was finished in. What exactly is PX Sherry?

Pedro Ximénez (PX) Sherry is a rich, naturally sweet dessert wine from Spain, made primarily from the Pedro Ximénez grape variety. To concentrate their sugars, the grapes are often dried under the sun—a process known as asoleo—before fermentation. This results in an intensely sweet, dark wine with pronounced flavors of dried fruits like raisins, figs, and dates, complemented by notes of honey, chocolate, and coffee. PX Sherry is notably viscous, offering a syrupy mouthfeel balanced by acidity, leading to a lingering, harmonious finish. Its unique characteristics make it a versatile ingredient in cocktails, adding thickness and a raisin-like sweetness.

According to the press release:

The PX Sherry cask finish imparts an aromatic bouquet of dried figs and dates, and decadent flavors of grape syrup and candied fruit followed by hints of spice, roasted coffee, and dark chocolate. The result is a unique and balanced pour.

 “We wanted to meld the intensely sweet flavors of PX Sherry with the spicy, peppery flavor notes of our ryed bourbon,” said Lux Row Master Distiller John Rempe. “The outcome is a delicious combination of two opposing yet complementary flavors that results in a truly unique expression.”

“PX Sherry was an immediate hit at Lux Row,” said Lux Row Brand Manager Eric Winter. “We’re looking forward to expanding its footprint and sharing this unique offering with bourbon drinkers who are looking for one-of-a-kind flavor options and taste profiles.”

Let’s dig in.

Lux Row Small Batch PX Sherry Cask Finish

Purchase Info: This sample was provided for review purposes at no cost. The suggested retail price is $49.99.

Price per Drink (50 mL): $3.33

Details: 56% ABV. Four years old. Finished for an additional six months in PX Sherry casks.

Nose: Strong oak initially, fading into cinnamon and toffee.

Mouth: Sweet and spicy, with notes of red fruit, caramel, and baking spice.

Finish: Warm and rich, with notes of caramel, cinnamon, red fruit, and oak.

Thoughts: This is quite good. To me, the Sherry-cask finishing comes through in the mouth most strongly, with hints in the nose and finish. It's got a wonderfully rich mouthfeel, almost syrupy. Then, the oak notes are there to support everything. Delicious!

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If you want to support our work at BourbonGuy.com, please consider a one-time donation at ko-fi.com/bourbonguy or paypal.me/BourbonGuy. Or you could buy some merch that I’ve designed and/or built (tasting journals, t-shirts, stickers, pins, signs, posters, and more) at BourbonGuyGifts.com. Use code BOURBONGUYREADER at checkout for 5% off any order of $50 or more.