Whiskey Review: Rebel Yell Single Barrel 10 Years Old

At 100 proof, the burn was bound to be there, and it’s the first observation as this Rebel Yell 10 hits the palate. Once my taste buds adjust, the aromatic compounds begin to wrap around the heat to provide a well-balanced experience. The orange-like citrus flavor is present as promised, but finishes more rind-y and pithy, allowing a bitterness to compliment the bouquet of fruit present. A dusting of wood shavings also provides evenness, and a lingering finish full of rich, toasty toffee and a perfumed tangy note of cedar wood allows for post-quaff pontification. One criticism here is a perceived thinness, a body that allows musty, sharp wood to dominate in the finish and is quite unexpected in a typically-more-luxurious-on-the-palate wheated bourbon. Final Thoughts & Score/Buy A Bottle: Score: 82/100 As a bourbon drinker familiar with Rebel Yell, I can certainly confirm that additional aging and cherry barrel selection has lent a complexity to an otherwise solid yet thoughtlessly mixable brand. The real question is: Would you pay almost three times as much for the premium version? Holding this comparison up to, say, Evan Williams Black vs. Single Barrel, I’m not as impressed by the ultimate expression presented by Luxco here. Die hard fans of Rebel Yell, however, may find the next rung on the ladder to bourbon enlightenment through this new release.