MGP Joins The Premium Whiskey Dance With Remus Volstead Reserve

The giant industrial distillery based in Lawrenceburg, Indiana that is known as MGP has, over the last couple of years, been raiding some of its aging whiskey stock for use in its own bottlings and brands. It has been interesting to watch them do this, making a decision to go head to head in a market that also sees a number of their sourcing clients as competition. Most prominent among the MGP labels has been George Remus, and now a new bottling in that line up is putting MGP into the premium whiskey category.

The new Remus Volstead Reserve Straight Bourbon Whiskey, according to those behind it, is a one time offering from MGP that is being released later this year to coincide “with the 100th anniversary of the start of National Prohibition – under the Volstead Act – that enforced the 18th Amendment outlawing the production and distribution of alcoholic spirits in the U.S. First ratified on January 16, 1919 and enacted one year later, the 18th Amendment ended in 1933, earning historic status as the only constitutional amendment to be entirely repealed.”

What you have specifically in the bottle here is bottled-in-bond from 2005 bourbons that’s been bottled at 100 proof. It is a 14 year old release with packaging that “is designed for collectors with a high-end glass bottle and commemorative box.” The price, as you might expect, is thus up there. In this case, around $200 per 750 ml bottle.

“Prohibition launched an era of social change which created legends such as George Remus, King of the Bootleggers, and a speakeasy culture that persists to this day,” said Andrew Mansinne, Vice President of Brands, MGP Ingredients, in a prepared statement. “Remus Volstead Reserve is made from our finest 14-year aged reserves and has spent the same time in barrel as this country spent under Prohibition. Like this singular historic era, our Volstead Reserve is one-of-a-kind.”

When Volstead Reserve hits retail in November, it will be in limited amounts, with no more than 500 9-liter cases being available for markets where George Remus Bourbon is currently sold. Limited official tasting notes suggest this bourbon “has rich aromas of dried candied fruit, caramelized pecans, oak, char and tobacco. Robust and rich oak flavors dominate the forward palate and body of this bourbon.  Balanced cherry and caramel touches compliment the oak in the body, and intensify in the bourbon’s finish.  Pleasant notes of leather and spice round out the finish, and oak and barrel char notes linger until the next sip.”