Rebel Cask Strength Single Barrel “Periodic BL” 
Mike Rosen

Bourbon

November 27, 2022

Rebel (previously Rebel Yell) was created by Charlie Farnsley in the late 1940s. Farnsley was a Kentucky politician who served in the KY House of Representatives, the US House of Representatives, mayor of Louisville and was the nephew of Alex T. Farnsley, one of the owners of Stitzel-Weller (S-W) Distillery. It was while Charlie was mayor that he created Rebel Yell as a private label to use as gifts to friends and for political purposes. In 1961 S-W acquired the Rebel Yell label from Farnsley to honor the centennial of the Civil War. Rebel Yell (a 5 year 90 proof, wheated bourbon) was made public for exclusive distribution below the Mason-Dixon line.

In 1972 Stitzel-Weller was sold to Norton Simon, Inc. and was renamed Old Fitzgerald Distillery after the S-W flagship brand. In 1984 the distillery was sold to United Distillers (now Diageo). Due to the downturn in whiskey sales the Old Fitzgerald Distillery was shuttered in 1992 and production was moved to United Distillers newly built Bernheim Distillery. In 1999 United Distillers sold the Bernheim Distillery to Heaven Hill Distillers, which sold the Rebel Yell brand to the St. Louis based David Sherman Corporation (now Luxco) but was produced at Heaven Hill.

In 2018 Luxco opened their own 18,000 square foot distillery in Bardstown KY to start distilling their own whiskey. This particular barrel was filled in 2017 which stands to reason that it was distilled at Heaven Hill. It will be interesting if there will be any noticeable differences between the Heaven Hill and Lux Row versions of Rebel? This barrel was picked by Jay West for the r/bourbon single barrel program in 2021 and was ready for sale in March 2022. Had enough history for now? Me too. Let’s get down to it.

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


If you are still reading this you might be thinking one of two things, or both. 1. This review is way too long or 2. Holy Heaven Hill Batman, isn’t that the same mash bill and barrel entry proof as Larceny? The answer to both is, yes! The answer to the next question, “How similar is Rebel compared to Larceny BP”? In a side-by-side comparison to Larceny BP Batch A122 (124.4 proof) they are very similar in terms of the overall flavor profile with very similar tasting notes. However, I found Larceny BP to be more complex, balanced, mature and flavorful. As one would expect comparing an older and well done batched expression verses a younger single barrel. In a nutshell, this Rebel SiB tastes like a younger and less intense Larceny BP.

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.

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