Rebel Cask Strength Single Barrel “Periodic BL” 

Taken: Neat in a Glencairn glass, rested about 15 minutes.

Proof: 120.

Age: 4 years

Barrel Fill Date: 3/13/2017, Barrel #7655456.

Mash bill: 68% Corn, 20% Wheat, 12% Malted Barely.

Price: $65.

Appearance: Golden caramel.

Nose

Werther’s caramel, peaches, apples, orange peel, maple syrup, cloves, cinnamon spice and oak. Oh man, this smells good. I love the soft bread-like wheat note underneath it all. It’s like a caramel, stone fruit and orange flavored wheat cake with vanilla cinnamon icing and a dollop of oak.

Palate

Medium viscous mouthfeel. The nose continues on to the palate with sweet caramel, peaches, orange citrus, brown sugar, cloves and oak char. Cinnamon spice ramps up considerably covering the whole palate lingering through to the finish. Though it can be a bit hot at times the spice works with the desert-y notes creating an experience that I’ve come to enjoy.

Finish

Cinnamon spice lingers with stone fruit, caramel, brown sugar and cloves. Oak transforms into a tannins of leather for a long finish.

Conclusion

The first time I tried this bottle I thought it drank pretty hot. A few days later I tried it again and had a better experience, but still wasn’t loving it like I thought I would. I was disappointed and put it away for another time. Fast forward eight months and about five pours later, I like it a whole lot more. In hindsight it was more about the amount of cinnamon spice then it was the proof. What brought me back to this bottle was curiosity, having been recently drinking its Ezra Brooks Cask Strength (rye bourbon mash bill) sibling, which is very good but that’s a review for another time.

A rebranding of its name and new owners weren’t the only thing that changed for Rebel over its lifetime. Significant changes were made to its mash bill and barrel entry proof (among many other things) which would have a major impact to any whiskeys overall flavor profile. If you’re curious to learn more about this, Google search “Maker’s Mark DNA Project Barrel Entry Proof Experiment”. According to author and bourbon historian Michael Veach, the original S-W wheated mash bill was 70% corn/18% wheat/12% malted barley with a barrel entry proof of 107. After S-W was sold to Norton Simon the mash bill changed to about 70% corn/20% wheat/10% malted barley with a barrel entry proof that was eventually raised to 114. By the time Bernheim was sold to Heaven Hill, the mash bill was 75% corn/20% wheat/5% malted barley. When Heaven Hill began producing Rebel the mash bill changed to what it is today being 68% corn/20% wheat/12% malted barley with a barrel entry proof of 125.

Rebel Yell 1980s Front

Rebel Yell 1980s Back

Rebel Yell 1960s Advertisment

There is a lot to like about Rebel CS and it definitely scratches that Heaven Hill wheated bourbon itch if that’s your jam. My local store recently has their own Rebel CS store pick and is charging $44, which is more in line with what I think it should cost. Considering I can buy Larceny BP for around $70-$80. If you see a Rebel CS store pick in the $50 neighborhood I would recommend it, especially if you can’t get your hands on a Larceny BP batch.

Rating: 6/10

1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out.
2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume by choice.
3 | Bad | Multiple flaws.
4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but better exists.
5 | Good | Good, just fine.
6 | Very Good | A cut above.
7 | Great | Well above average.
8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional.
9 | Incredible | An all time favorite.
10 | Perfect | Perfect.