Remus Repeal Reserve VII, 2023

October 3, 2023 Eric Burke

I’d like to thank ByrnePR and Ross & Squibb Distillery for providing this review sample with no strings attached.

Ladies and gentlemen, today's whiskey review comes to you with a twist, as I find myself under the weather and unable to fully indulge in the delightful experience of tasting Remus Repeal Reserve Series VII. But fear not, as I've enlisted the help of artificial intelligence to guide you through this introduction and provide you with a glimpse into what makes this particular bourbon so intriguing.

Remus Repeal Reserve Series 7 is the latest installment in a prestigious line of bourbons that pays tribute to George Remus, a legendary figure from the Prohibition era. Known for its exceptional craftsmanship and a commitment to recreating the essence of that bygone era, this series has consistently captivated whiskey enthusiasts with its unique blends. This seventh edition promises to continue that tradition, offering a carefully curated blend of aged bourbons that promise a symphony of flavors and aromas.

Though I may not be able to savor the nuances of this whiskey today, I'm excited to embark on this virtual journey with you. Join me in exploring the legacy and craftsmanship behind Remus Repeal Reserve Series VII, as we delve into its history, tasting notes, and what makes it a notable addition to the world of bourbon. Cheers to the power of technology and the enduring spirit of whiskey appreciation!

Yeah…that’s right. I have a massive headache brought on by either a minor cold or severe allergies. No clue as to which, so I asked ChatGPT to write the intro to this one. If you want to read a more in-depth history of the brand's namesake, George Remus, look no further than the review of the initial release of Remus Repeal Reserve back in 2017. I think it still holds up.

This 2023 edition of Remus Repeal Reserve is a medley of five different bourbons from the MGP stocks. These come from both their “21% rye” bourbon mashbill (75% Corn, 21% Rye, and 4% Barley Malt) and their “36% rye” bourbon mashbill (60% Corn, 36% Rye, and 4% Barley Malt). The five bourbons include:

6% “21% rye” bourbon distilled in 2007
26% “21% rye” bourbon distilled in 2013
21% “21% rye” bourbon distilled in 2014
26% “36% rye” bourbon distilled in 2013
21% “36% rye” bourbon distilled in 2014

And luckily for you, I came down with whatever this is (gestures broadly at his head) after I did the tasting for this week. So let’s dig in and see how this one tastes (or more accurately, tasted earlier this weekend before I got sick).

Remus Repeal Reserve VII, 2023

Purchase Info: This sample was provided by the producer for review purposes. The suggested retail price is $99.99 for a 750 mL bottle.

Price per Drink (50 mL): $6.66

Nose: Brown Sugar, allspice, vanilla,

Mouth: Caramel, cinnamon, allspice, green apple, leather, and oak.

Finish: Medium in warmth and length. Notes of leather, oak, cinnamon, and green apple.

Thoughts: As usual, this is delicious. I’m really digging the baking spice notes. The green apple that came out during the tasting in Glencairn glasses is not nearly as prominent out of a rocks glass, which I actually like. It was just a bit too prominent in the original tasting. It's still there, but it's much better integrated. All in all, this is a delicious release. Aside from last year’s, I’ve reviewed every edition right back to the beginning. And this is right up there quality-wise with all the rest. If you’ve liked it in the past, you probably still will. I know I do.

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Luca Mariano Ambassador 86 Bourbon (in partnership with Green Bay Packer Hall of Famer Antonio Freeman)

September 26, 2023 Eric Burke

I‘d like to thank the folks at Luca Mariano for sending this review sample with no strings attached.

I love American football. If a game is on a screen within visible range, my eyes will be on it. I just can’t help it. I love the sport. College Bowl season is my favorite time of the year. If I go out to eat, no matter the day, there will probably be a game on that I should have no logical reason to care about but will still watch intensely until we leave. These days, I am more of a college football fan than an NFL one, but if an NFL game is on the screen I can see, I’m watching it. My Saturdays are emotional in the fall. I’ll be the happiest man alive if my beloved Golden Gophers win. If they lose, it's probably best not to talk to me for a little bit until I get over it. (I think I will have more bad Saturdays than good this year since we just lost to a team without a coach.)

You’d think I’d be used to my teams losing. I grew up in Northern Wisconsin as a Green Bay Packer fan in the 1970s and 80s. I had to read books that were twenty years old to see things written about a good Packer team. But, just like these days with my Gophers, a bad year (or years) doesn’t dilute the passion. I mean, the people I grew up around would motion to the Pastor to speed things up if it looked like church wouldn’t end in time for kickoff (and he’d do it). We were a serious football family surrounded by other serious football families. And when I grew up and moved to the Green Bay area, you knew that I was going to be one of the many rabid fans in the area.

And I was! Of course, by this time, the Packers were actually good, having already gone to a couple of Super Bowls. I watched every game, including numerous games at Lambeau. (Even though every game is a sellout, numerous season ticket holders can’t make it to every game and make their tickets available.) Those I couldn’t be at were watched in my living room with a wife who was extremely tolerant of my obsession. She was a fan, too, but not in the “ruin your day after a bad game” sense like I was. And all those games I watched, I watched wearing my trusty Antonio Freeman #86 Packer Jersey.

These days, I live in a different state and don’t get the opportunity to watch as many games as I used to when I was in Green Bay. Unless you were one of the many establishments that had the game on, the local economy literally stopped during game time. And though I’m not nearly as obsessed as I used to be (like I said, college football fills that role now), I still follow along when I can. I’m even one of the thousands of official Packer stockholding owners.

So when I got a press release saying that Luca Mariano had made a whiskey in honor of their good friend Antonio Freeman? Well, you know, the first thing I did was reach out to them to see if they had a sample to taste and share. Here’s what they had to say about it:

Born from friendship and craftsmanship, Luca Mariano Ambassador 86 is a limited release to coincide with the upcoming 2023 NFL season and to celebrate the career of Green Bay Packer’s former Wide Receiver and Super Bowl XXXI Champion Antonio Freeman. Just like Antonio’s Super Bowl victory, Luca Mariano Ambassador 86 is a three barrel blend of greatness hand picked by Antonio Freeman himself. It’s a 3 Barrel Small Batch, high rye Kentucky straight bourbon, aged 8 years and 6 days, and comes in at 86 proof. This limited release not only celebrates Luca Mariano’s and Antonio’s commitment to excellence but also pays homage to the passion of a champion through its name. Antonio wore jersey number 86 throughout his NFL career and was known for his toughness, power, and ability to make big plays. His Super Bowl XXX1 championship with Green Bay cemented his place as an NFL legend.

According to a company social media post, this is available in Wisconsin at select Festival Foods stores. And according to the Festival Foods website, it runs about $90.

Ok, so now that we have all that out of the way, how does it taste?

Luca Mariano Ambassador 86 Bourbon

Purchase Info: This sample was provided by the producer for review purposes. No suggested retail price was given. But the Festival Foods website says they have it for $89.99, currently on sale for…$86.

Price per Drink (50 mL): $6.00 (at regular price)

Details: 43% ABV. 8 years old.

Nose: Nutmeg, oak, brown sugar, and a pleasant floral note.

Mouth: Cinnamon, nutmeg, cotton candy, brown sugar, citrus zest, and oak.

Finish: Sweet and of medium length and warmth. Notes of vanilla, oak, and citrus zest.

Thoughts: When I saw 86° proof on this, I was prepared to be disappointed. Instead, I was very pleasantly surprised. This drinks very nicely at 86° proof. There is very nice spice, but it isn't so hot that you can't enjoy it. If you are looking for a comparison, it reminds me a lot of Buffalo Trace.

I like it. I will probably have to pour the rest of the sample into my glass the next time I watch a Packer game. Maybe more if any of my Wisconsin readers want to help a fella out…

UPDATE…and it turns out someone did help a fella out. You know who you are and thank you very much.

Garrison Brothers Cowboy Bourbon 2023

September 21, 2023 Eric Burke

I’d like to thank the folks at Garrison Brothers for providing this review sample with no strings attached.

A reminder that I am on vacation to the Pacific Northwest this week. If things go as planned, as you read this, I should be hanging around Mount Rainier National Park or relaxing in my cabin outside of the park. Obviously, this was written ahead of time.

Garrison Brothers is not a distillery I know much about, having never purchased their product before. Mostly because the cheapest bottle that Total Wine has is about $90 per 750 mL bottle, with the highest-priced bottle being above $200. That’s a bit too high for me to take a flyer on. But when they offered me a sample of their upcoming 2023 Cowboy Bourbon, I knew I needed to experience this 140°+ proof monster.

2023’s Cowboy bourbon will be releasing Saturday, September 23rd, at a distillery event in Hye, Texas, with the remaining bottles landing at retailers starting the first week of October. The suggested retail price is $249.99.

Here is what the company has to say about this bad boy.

Cowboy Bourbon® is Garrison Brothers’ most elite expression offering the truest taste of Texas terroir on the market. The release comes from what Master Distiller Donnis Todd calls his “piggy bank” of barrels that are just too flavorful on first taste to bottle. He patiently saves and collects these specific barrels as he finds them during his daily, monthly and yearly taste tests, if he deems them of having Cowboy Bourbon® potential. Years later, he takes these barrels out of the already incredibly harsh Texas climate in which they are aging and puts them to the ultimate test: more Texas heat. The already incredibly high-proof barrels continue to age, with some ending up completely empty. Those that remain are collected and married together to make the legendary Cowboy Bourbon® bottled at cask-strength, uncut and unfiltered. Every barrel used in this year’s release was at least six years old.

So, how does it taste?

Garrison Brothers Cowboy Bourbon 2023

Purchase Info: This sample was provided by the producer for review purposes. The suggested retail price is $249.99.

Price per Drink (50 mL): $16.67

Details: 6 years old. 70.45% ABV.

Nose: Maple, mint, cinnamon, leather, and oak.

Mouth: Holy Fuckballs that's hot! Notes of oak, leather, maple, campfire smoke, and cinnamon.

Finish: Hot and long with notes of cinnamon, maple candy, leather, wintergreen, and oak.

Thoughts: This is a very tasty bourbon. Super fucking hot at 140.9° proof, but no one but internet tough guys would try to sit down and drink a glass of whiskey at this proof without water or ice. Well, not if they wanted to taste anything later that is. My taste buds are blown right out after this tasting. Luckily it takes water well, retaining the flavor but taming the heat. Give me this with a large cube/sphere of ice on a hot evening and I'll be happy as can be. It's quite good.

Remus Highest Rye Straight Bourbon Whiskey

September 7, 2023 Eric Burke

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

Well, I’m officially on vacation. The last pup went home today. The last bit of client work was finished, and tomorrow is that glorious day when I just have to finish the last few thin…oh who am I kidding? The day before vacation is the most stressful time of the entire trip. I don’t know about you, but I can’t help thinking, “What if I forget something?” The rational answer is, of course, “Well…they have stores in Washington, Oregon, and California. You can just go buy something to replace the (probably small) thing you forgot.” But humans, as you might have discovered, are rarely the rational creatures we pretend to be.

But before I head out on vacation, we need to talk about the new bourbon from Ross & Squibb.

Remus Highest Rye Straight Bourbon Whiskey is taking naming very literally. With a mashbill of 51% corn, 39% rye, and 10% malted rye, there is no mathematical way that a bourbon could have more rye in the mashbill and still be bourbon. At 49% rye, it is two percentage points from being a rye whiskey. We talk about the Kentucky-style “barely legal” rye all the time. But this might be my first “barely legal” bourbon. The 109° proof bourbon is a permanent, year-round line extension and will be sold nationwide for a suggested retail price of $54.99.

Now, let’s dig in and see if it is any good.

Remus Highest Rye Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Purchase Info: This bottle was sent at no charge for review purposes. The suggested retail price is $54.99.

Price per Drink (50 mL): $3.67

Details: 6 years old. 54.5% ABV.

Nose: Mint, almond, and a touch of cinnamon and oak.

Mouth: Sweet with a vibrant heat that sneaks up on you as you hold it in the mouth to tease out notes of honey, oak, mint, and cinnamon.

Finish: Medium in length and warmth. Notes of cinnamon red hot candies, honey, and a sharp oak.

Thoughts: This is a killer bourbon at $55. It is sweet and warm, but even at 109° proof, it is very drinkable neat. I am not picking up much influence from the malted rye, but for me, that's a good thing as I don't really care for the flavor that malted rye usually brings. This will undoubtedly be part of the rotation of bourbons I occasionally pick up after I see it land on local store shelves.

Maker’s Mark Cellar Aged Bourbon

September 5, 2023 Eric Burke

I’d like to thank the folks at Maker’s Mark for providing this review sample with no strings attached.

It is officially September. The time of year where I take half of a month off and go on vacation just as the bourbon news is heating up for the year. (Can you tell that this isn’t a profit driven enterprise?) September is a wonderful month for my wife and I. Both of our birthdays and our wedding anniversary happen within a week of one another. And as I mentioned previously, we also go on vacation to celebrate another trip around the sun with one another.

So what’s the plan for BourbonGuy.com? Well, not much will change. I’m writing ahead, so the posts may be a little shorter and may be down to once per week while I’m gone. I’m covering everything that the whiskey fairy delivered prior to vacation so that the news is still fresh and timely. But I’m also deep into vacation mode so…yeah.

Let’s get started on the first one. This is a bourbon that I’ve been looking forward to ever since I saw the press release come across my desk a few weeks ago. I’m a big Maker’s Mark fan. I’ve been an Ambassador for years. In fact, I often say that Maker’s is really the only Wheated Bourbon that I consistently like. Others are either mood-dependent or just don’t hit right.

I’m a huge fan of Maker’s at 101 proof. The Cask Strength is also on my shelf fairly regularly. I’ve found the Private Select bourbons and their Special Releases to be hit or miss, but I always enjoy the Maker’s 46 and the rest of the core lineup. I say all that to let you know where I am coming from with this. I never realized that there was a hole in the Maker’s Mark experience prior to learning about tonight’s Bourbon, Maker’s Mark Cellar Aged. But once I heard of an extra-aged version of Maker’s, well that hole was glaring. I needed to try it.

But before we talk about what I thought of the Bourbon, Let’s give Maker’s a change to speak for themselves.

To become Maker’s Mark Cellar Aged, barrels of the distillery’s classic distillate first spend approximately six years aging in traditional bourbon warehouses, where they endure the Kentucky climate and its temperature swings season after season until they reach full maturity and can be called “Maker’s Mark.” Barrels are then moved into the distillery’s proprietary whisky cellar for an additional five to six years of aging before being blended to taste and bottled. Built into the natural limestone shelf of the Kentucky hills, the cellar’s consistently cool environment slows down the tannic impact that occurs during maturation, while allowing the bourbon to develop a deeper, darker flavor with hidden depths, but no bitterness. Cellar Aged will be an annual, limited release available in specific markets around the world. The unique maturation approach of Cellar Aged will be consistent every year, but the specific blend of aged bourbon will vary based on which barrels are ready, by taste. The inaugural release of Cellar Aged is a marriage of 12-year-old and 11-year-old whisky – 87% and 13%, respectively – bottled at cask strength (115.7 proof). Cellar Aged will be available for a suggested retail price of USD $150.00 in the United States in September 2023; in London, Munich and select Global Travel Retail accounts in October 2023; and in Tokyo and Singapore in early 2024.

Ok now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, let’s dig in.

Maker's Mark Cellar Aged

Purchase Info: This review sample was provided at no cost but the producer for review purposes. The suggested retail price is $150 for a 750 mL bottle.

Price per Drink (50 mL): $10

Details: 57.87% ABV. 11-12 years old.

Nose: Cocoa powder, leather, caramel, vanilla, and oak.

Mouth: Cinnamon, stone fruit, caramel, cocoa, leather, vanilla, and oak

Finish: Long and warm with notes of cinnamon, oak, and a chocolate caramel that transitions to vanilla.

Thoughts: This is really good. I personally think that it is a bit too hot to drink neat, but it takes a splash of water well. Water tames the heat, but retains most of the flavor notes while also bringing out a touch of mint. I've been a Maker's Mark Ambassador since 2011 and have had a lot of Maker's over the years. This is probably in the top two or three Maker's products that I've tasted. If I see this, I will probably “have to” pick up a bottle. But due to the cost, I will have to do some mental gymnastics to justify it to myself too.

Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch, 2023

August 29, 2023 Eric Burke

I’d like to thank Four Roses for providing this review sample with no strings attached.

I don’t get to write about Four Roses very often, even though I am a big fan of their products. The issue is that they’ve only got four products. And I’ve written about all of them multiple times. So when Fall Limited Bourbon Release Season approaches, I get very excited because it lets me let my inner fanboy out. Because I am an unashamed Four Roses Fanboy. Maybe less so now that these releases have reached the $200 price range and are basically only available via retailer lottery. But that’s primarily due to my short attention span and the fact that there is no use getting excited about something that 1) I won’t see and 2) I couldn’t really afford if I did. (That excitement level will shoot through the roof, should I ever win a lottery for this product…I might even splurge and purchase it.)

So, though I’ve been covering these for most of the last 12 years, let’s go over some of the basics.

What is the Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch bourbon?

Every fall, Four Roses releases a bourbon that can showcase their ten bourbon “recipes.” They have two mash bills and five yeast strains, which gives them a huge advantage when it comes to blending bourbons (don’t let them hear you call it blending, though; they are still smarting over being forced to be a Blended Whiskey brand by corporate overlords for decades). They use all ten for their main bourbon, one recipe (OBSV) for the single barrel, four (OBSK, OBSO, OESK, and OESO) for the Small Batch, and six (OBSV, OBSK, OBSF, OESV, OESK, OESF) for Small Batch Select. The yearly Limited Edition Small Batch allows them to experiment with recipes and combinations that they don’t use in the main product line. In the past, releases have even used the Q yeast, one of my favorites but one many people do not prefer. They also tend to use much older product than their main-line bourbons.

Ok, you listed a lot of codes in that last explanation. What do they mean?

The codes are a legacy of being a part of the Seagram’s family before it disintegrated back at the turn of the millennium. Each of the codes corresponds to one combination of mash bill and yeast. Every code starts with O, which is the old Seagram’s designation for the current Four Roses Distillery (they had a lot of distilleries). The second letter designates which mash bill is being used. It will be a B if it uses the 35% rye mash bill or an E if it uses the 20% rye mash bill, the only two that Four Roses still uses. The third letter will always be an S because it stands for “Straight Whiskey” and is another legacy of Seagram’s having a lot of products in their portfolio. The final letter tells you which yeast strain is being used. V yeast tends to provide a delicate fruit note, K a slight spice, O rich fruit notes, Q tends to provide a floral note (that I love), and F tends to yield herbal notes.

Great. So, which are used in the Limited Edition Small Batch this year?

Great question. Brent Elliott used four batches of three different recipes this year. 40% of the product is a 14-year-old OESK, 35% is a 12-year-old OESV, 20% is a 16-year-old OESV, and the final 5% is a 25-year OBSV. All barrels used in this batch were from the bottom three levels of Four Roses’ single-story warehouses.

So is it any good?

Let’s find out.

Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch, 2023

Purchase Info: This sample was provided for review purchases at no charge. The suggested retail price is $199.99.

Price per Drink (50 mL): $13.33

Nose: Vanilla, caramel, rose petals, spearmint, oak and cinnamon.

Mouth: Cinnamon spice, honey, floral spearmint, stone fruits, and oak.

Finish: Long and hot. Notes of cinnamon spice, nutmeg, rose petals, and oak.

Thoughts: I wanted not to like this. I wanted not to be tempted to enter lotteries for this. I wanted not to have to spend $200 on a single bottle of bourbon should I be one of the folks chosen to purchase a bottle. Guess what? I love this. Even graded on a $200 curve, I love this. I fully expected to say the opposite. That nothing is worth that price. But I'll be damned if I don't need to eat some crow, along with my preconceived notions. This is spicy and floral with just the right amount of oak. It's just absolutely delicious.

This is not just in the running for BourbonGuy Bourbon-of-the-Year; it’s leading the pack by a long margin. Hell, it’s the first one to get a heart in well over a year.

Larceny Barrel Proof, C923

August 17, 2023 Eric Burke

I’d like to thank Heaven Hill for providing this review sample with no strings attached.

Well folks, it’s officially Fall Bourbon Release Season. I’ve gotten press releases for some and I’ve seen shipment notifications for others. But this Larceny Barrel Proof is the first that has arrived for review. We’ve talked a lot over the years about both Elijah Craig and Larceny Barrel Proof Bourbons. So I’ll just jump right into it.

This is the third and final release of the barrel-proof version of Larceny, Heaven Hill’s flagship wheated Bourbon, for 2023. As always this is delicious and quite hot. This one clocks in at 126.4° proof. The bourbons used in this batch are between six and eight years old. The suggested retail price is $59.99 for a 750 mL bottle.

Let’s dig in and see how it tastes.

Larceny Barrel Proof, B523

Purchase Info: This sample bottle was provided by the producer for review purposes. The suggested retail price is $59.99.

Price per Drink (50 ml): $4.00

Details: 63.2% ABV

Nose: Dusty oak, almond, caramel and baking spice.

Mouth: Oak, caramel, cinnamon, and nutmeg.

Finish: Long and warm. Dry with notes of oak and nutmeg.

Thoughts: Very oak forward on this one. Sweet and spicy in the month but the finish is dry. Very tasty. Water amps up the sweetness and tames the spiciness a bit.

Comparison to B523: C923 is much sweeter on the nose. Though B523 is hot and spicy, C923 is even spicier. The spiciness is balanced by a sweetness that B523 is lacking by comparison. I like them both but if I had the option to choose, I'd choose C923 for the extra sweetness. And this is very strange since I said last time that I would have chosen B523 over A123 for the same reason. More sweetness. I guess this year started great and just got progressively sweeter. In any case, you can’t go wrong with any of this year’s releases.

Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond, Spring 2023 Edition

August 8, 2023 Eric Burke

I’d like to thank Heaven Hill for providing this review sample with no strings attached.

Folks, you know what is amazing? That I, a well-noted clumsy person, have never broken a bone. Maybe it’s all the calcium that I ingested as a boy growing up in Wisconsin. I’ve tripped over both existent and non-existent items for almost 50 years. I’ve slipped, I’ve fallen, I’ve hit my head on things hard and soft. But no bones were ever broken.

Until last night when I tripped over a stone in my yard while barefoot, the concrete chunk that I used as part of my stone edging ripped open one of the smaller toes and (based on the color and severity of the bruises and the sensitivity of the toe) likely broke it too. It was an interesting night as I tried to keep dogs from stomping on it.

But the night wasn’t all bad. I also had the opportunity to taste a lovely sample from Heaven Hill. And no, I tasted it after the injury, not prior. The injury was solely due to my own clumsiness with no help from imbibed substances.

Tonight’s bourbon is the latest in Heaven Hill’s Old Fitzgerald line of Wheated Bourbons. It was distilled in the Spring of 2013 and Bottled in the Spring of 2023, making it ten years old and, as it is a bonded bourbon, 100° proof. As usual, it comes in a beautiful decanter. This edition has a suggested retail price of $140.

Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond Spring 2023

Purchase Info: This sample was provided at no charge for review purposes. The suggested retail price is $139.99 for a 750 mL bottle.

Price per Drink (50 mL): $9.33

Details: 10 years old. 50% ABV

Nose: Spearmint, bubble gum, and just a hint of baking spices.

Mouth: Velvety mouthfeel. Initial notes of caramel, cocoa, and almond before spicy cinnamon and nutmeg take over.

Finish: Warm and on the shorter side of medium with notes of cherry, cinnamon, and cocoa.

Thoughts: This is very good, though priced way out of my price range for what it is. I'd buy two at $70. But at $140? Well, I would have a hard time explaining the purchase to my wife. (Though not for nothin', she said she'd probably buy it if she saw it because she wants the bottle. If given the opportunity to choose, though, she'd pick a different edition to fulfill her need to put pretty bottles on the shelf.) It's very good, just not $140 good.

Blog

Remus Repeal Reserve VII, 2023

Luca Mariano Ambassador 86 Bourbon

Garrison Brothers Cowboy Bourbon 2023

Remus Highest Rye Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Maker's Mark Cellar Aged

Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch, 2023

Larceny Barrel Proof, B523

Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond Spring 2023