Taken: Neat in a Glencairn glass, rested for about 15 minutes.
Distillery: Ross & Squibb Distillery, Lawrenceburg, Indiana.
Proof: 104.9. Non-chill filtered.
Age: 15 years.
Mash bill: 75% Corn/21% Rye/4% Malted Barley & 60% Corn/36% Rye/4% Malted Barley.
Retail Price: $229.99.
Appearance: Dark caramel.
Nose
This nose has a substantial amount of dark barrel character flavors of caramelized dark brown sugar and maple, toffee, and chocolate, along with a layer of Luxardo cherries, dates and baked apples, green tea, cloves, floral, vanilla extract, orange peel, allspice, and toasted pecans. There’s a lot to love in this dark and rich profile, but what stands out the most is the caramelized dark brown sugar, chocolate, and Luxardo cherries. I also love the balance and use of the MGP high and low rye bourbon mash bills, highlighting the fruit and herbaceous flavors with little proof heat. This nose is incredible.
Palate
The nose moves right on the palate with caramelized brown sugar, toffee, dark chocolate, Luxardo cherries, baked apples, green tea, cloves, and toasted oak. A moderate amount of allspice slowly enters mid-sip with a very good viscous mouthfeel. Much like the nose, this profile leans more on its darker barrel character, with a layer of excellent cherries, orchard fruit, and herbaceous flavors underneath. The balance is excellent, with very little proof heat.
Finish
Allspice continues with chocolate, cherries, green tea, floral, orange peel and vanilla. With more time, tannins of tobacco and leather appear with a bit of musty oak that leaves you with a long, oak-forward finish with dryness at the very end.
Conclusion
Remus Gatsby Reserve 2024 has more barrel character than I expected, but I’m not complaining. I love a great oak-forward flavor profile, especially when it includes some of my favorite fruits and herbaceous flavors. I can’t say Gatsby Reserve is as great as Russell’s Reserve 15 or Hardin’s Creek Jacob’s Well Batch 2, but it’s not too far behind. Gatsby Reserve is also distinct enough from Beam and Turkey that it doesn’t duplicate something I already own. What Gatsby Reserve reminds me the most is some of the excellent 14 and 15-year-old sourced Barton bourbon I’ve had. Not only does Gatsby Reserve 2024 offer us MGP’s most popular bourbon mash bills in a well-aged release, but it’s also an incredibly delicious, flavorful, and highly enjoyable sipper. I often overlook aesthetics, but I’d be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge the special packaging and gorgeous bottle. For the money, Gatsby Reserve isn’t a release I’d buy often, but it’s a great one to own and share with friends. If the Remus Gatsby Reserve 2024 sounds right up your alley, it’s worth the splurge.
Rating: 9.3/10.
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.
