Rebel Distiller’s Collection
68% Corn, 20% Wheat, 12% Malted Barley | 113 Proof | 5+ Years | Single Barrel (store pick)
These days it seems some wheated bourbons have reached meme status among collectors and enthusiasts - think of your Wellers and your Van Winkles. It’s curious that these are wheated bourbons, or “wheaters,” to use the common term in your local Facebook Bourbon Hunting Brag Forum. Is the wheated mash bill better? Do our palates share a common preference for wheated bourbons over those made with rye? Or are the mash bills and meme status just coincidence?
Cognizant of the wheat hype, the retailer who selected Rebel Distiller’s Collection barrel 7112046 filled on 6/17/2015 for the bottle reviewed here (the bottle you’ll note is empty in the above photos), points out its history with with the Stitzel-Weller Distillery. W. L. Weller, Old Fitzgerald, Pappy Van Winkle, Old Weller, and Rebel Yell were all produced by Stitzel-Weller until the brands were sold in 1972 with the closure of the distillery. Now owned by Lux Row, Rebel Distiller’s Collection is a selection of barrels chosen by Lux Row to be offered at a higher proof and price point than Rebel Yell. Though not stated explicitly on Lux Row’s website, these barrels are understood to have been distilled by Heaven Hill. This distillate in particular, entered the barrel in June of 2015, around the time Lux Row began making moves to grow their facilities and distilling capabilities. Aside: you’ll note that “Yell” is omitted from the name Rebel Distiller’s Collection - Lux Row has rebranded this entire line by excising this reference to the Confederate soldier’s battle cry.
Looking at it in the bottle, Rebel DC has a slight ruby tint I don’t see in other wheated bourbons. On the nose, there are primarily light and sweet notes like cherry and butterscotch, but some spice notes like vanilla and cinnamon are present as well. While it’s not a powerful nose, it’s a very pleasant one and I keep taking draws of it over and over again. As I swirl this around in the glass, the cherry becomes more and more prominent. Upon taking a sip, the palate is loaded with the same sweet cherry, but also brings lots of sweet toffee and browned butter frosting, all of which I would attribute to the wheat. I was pleasantly surprised by the presence of baking spices and caramel in the finish, which I would usually associate with rye. Even at 113 proof, it doesn’t have a strong bite or dry out your palate with ethanol as the flavor dissipates. Though it lacks rye, I didn’t find Rebel DC to lack complexity. It’s medium-bodied and smooth.
Here’s the thing with this stuff - I revisited my side-by-side with Rebel DC and Weller 107… and after plenty of back and forth, I have to say I prefer Rebel DC. The Weller is supremely smooth and certainly has its place, but the Rebel, being a tad more complex, eeks out a win in my opinion. The whole experience from nose to finish is really pleasant and light, but it has spice notes that make it shine in comparison other relatively young wheated bourbons.
6.5 - This is an outstanding (for the price) wheated bourbon that will likely have a permanent spot in the rotation (as long as I can keep finding bottles of it). It’s a reality-check for those who may have lost touch out there in the tater-verse.
Glassware - Glencairn
Rested - 10 minutes
Bottle opened - 6+ weeks ago
Setting - At the cozy home bar on a cold winter night
Listening to - “Right Now (feat. Njomza and Alex & Alex)” - Vindata
