Remus Gatsby Reserve, 2023

I’d like to thank ByrnePR and Ross & Squibb Distillery for providing this review sample with no strings attached.

Have you read The Great Gatsby? It plays a very large part in the mythology of the Prohibition Era, but I wonder how many people have actually read it. For fun, I mean. Being forced to read things in school and analyze them for hidden meanings tends to make folks enjoy the reading a lot less, at least it did for me. Not to say that assigned readings and analysis are a waste of time, just that they tend to get in the way of enjoyment.

So I guess the question should be, how many of you enjoyed The Great Gatsby? I read it about a decade ago. I think it was about the time that the movie starring Leonardo DiCaprio came out. I hadn’t seen the movie yet, but it was on the list of things I would probably pick up from Redbox or stream on Netflix. So, I picked up a copy of the book. I remember it had a blue cover with giant disembodied eyes on it. I remember the book being…well…not very memorable. It was an enjoyable read, and I almost immediately forgot everything about it. Strange for something that is a part of many high school curriculums. If I were rating it on a scale like I do whiskey, it would get the neutral “meh” face. It’s ok, not great, but not objectively bad. Some people like it. It just isn’t for me, I guess.

I really had no point to all of that. I just had the thought as I pondered tonight’s bourbon, Remus Gatsby Reserve.

Remus Gatsby Reserve is a limited edition bourbon produced by the Ross & Squibb part of MGP. It is a 15-year-old blend of two bourbon mash bills. One is 75% corn, 21% rye, and 4% barley malt. The other is 60% corn, 36% rye, and 4% barley malt. The bourbon is bottled at the low barrel proof of 98.1° proof. (Want to know how it can be both sub-100° proof and also barrel proof? Check out this old article I wrote that explained such things). The suggested retail price is $199.99 for a 750 mL bottle.

Now, let’s let the producers have their say on the product:

Ross & Squibb Distillery announced the return of the most-limited member of the Remus Bourbon family: Remus Gatsby Reserve 2023 Edition. Released to celebrate F. Scott Fitzgerald’s legendary novel, “The Great Gatsby”, a century ago – from the events in 1922 that inspired the novel to its publication in 1925 – Remus Gatsby Reserve is bottled at 98.1 proof (49.05% ABV) and offered in ultra-limited quantities at a minimum suggested retail price of $199.99 per 750-ml bottle. “We have produced great bourbon whiskey over the years at Ross & Squibb, and the Remus Bourbon brand has provided our team an opportunity to showcase some of our best,” said Stirsman. “Remus Gatsby reserve provides a special opportunity to showcase the best of the best – including two different mash bills of some of the finest 15-year-old bourbons in our reserves.

Now onto the important part. How does it actually taste?

Remus Gatsby Reserve, 2023

Purchase Info: This sample was provided to me at no charge for review purposes. The suggested retail price is $199.99 for a 750 mL bottle.

Price per Drink (50 mL): $13.33

Details: 15 year olds, 49.05% ABV

Nose: Caramel, vanilla, bubble gum, and oak.

Mouth: Vanilla, bubble gum, red fruit, cinnamon, caramel, and oak.

Finish: Medium in length and warmth with notes of caramel, bubble gum, red fruits, cinnamon, and oak.

Thoughts: If anyone wants to get me a Christmas present this year, look no further than this. It's delicious. This is as close to a "heart" rating as I can give based on the price. It is tasty enough to get a heart when judged without context. I don’t know about you, but I don’t actually live in a context-free world. And the context I’m talking about is that $200 is a LOT of money, and I really don’t think any bourbon is “worth” as much as a higher-end small appliance.

That said, if I were to put 5 "reallys" in the statement "I really like this," it would sum up my feeling accurately. It’s a damn good bourbon. Luckily for me, this bourbon will probably never see a shelf in Minnesota, so I will not be tempted to buy it. Because damn, I'd be severely tempted even at $200.

Seriously, if ya’ll want to go together and get me a gift for Christmas, this would be a good one to get.

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Remus Repeal Reserve VII, 2023

I’d like to thank ByrnePR and Ross & Squibb Distillery for providing this review sample with no strings attached.

Ladies and gentlemen, today's whiskey review comes to you with a twist, as I find myself under the weather and unable to fully indulge in the delightful experience of tasting Remus Repeal Reserve Series VII. But fear not, as I've enlisted the help of artificial intelligence to guide you through this introduction and provide you with a glimpse into what makes this particular bourbon so intriguing.

Remus Repeal Reserve Series 7 is the latest installment in a prestigious line of bourbons that pays tribute to George Remus, a legendary figure from the Prohibition era. Known for its exceptional craftsmanship and a commitment to recreating the essence of that bygone era, this series has consistently captivated whiskey enthusiasts with its unique blends. This seventh edition promises to continue that tradition, offering a carefully curated blend of aged bourbons that promise a symphony of flavors and aromas.

Though I may not be able to savor the nuances of this whiskey today, I'm excited to embark on this virtual journey with you. Join me in exploring the legacy and craftsmanship behind Remus Repeal Reserve Series VII, as we delve into its history, tasting notes, and what makes it a notable addition to the world of bourbon. Cheers to the power of technology and the enduring spirit of whiskey appreciation!

Yeah…that’s right. I have a massive headache brought on by either a minor cold or severe allergies. No clue as to which, so I asked ChatGPT to write the intro to this one. If you want to read a more in-depth history of the brand's namesake, George Remus, look no further than the review of the initial release of Remus Repeal Reserve back in 2017. I think it still holds up.

This 2023 edition of Remus Repeal Reserve is a medley of five different bourbons from the MGP stocks. These come from both their “21% rye” bourbon mashbill (75% Corn, 21% Rye, and 4% Barley Malt) and their “36% rye” bourbon mashbill (60% Corn, 36% Rye, and 4% Barley Malt). The five bourbons include:

  • 6% “21% rye” bourbon distilled in 2007

  • 26% “21% rye” bourbon distilled in 2013

  • 21% “21% rye” bourbon distilled in 2014

  • 26% “36% rye” bourbon distilled in 2013

  • 21% “36% rye” bourbon distilled in 2014

And luckily for you, I came down with whatever this is (gestures broadly at his head) after I did the tasting for this week. So let’s dig in and see how this one tastes (or more accurately, tasted earlier this weekend before I got sick).

Remus Repeal Reserve VII, 2023

Purchase Info: This sample was provided by the producer for review purposes. The suggested retail price is $99.99 for a 750 mL bottle.

Price per Drink (50 mL): $6.66

Nose: Brown Sugar, allspice, vanilla,

Mouth: Caramel, cinnamon, allspice, green apple, leather, and oak.

Finish: Medium in warmth and length. Notes of leather, oak, cinnamon, and green apple.

Thoughts: As usual, this is delicious. I’m really digging the baking spice notes. The green apple that came out during the tasting in Glencairn glasses is not nearly as prominent out of a rocks glass, which I actually like. It was just a bit too prominent in the original tasting. It's still there, but it's much better integrated. All in all, this is a delicious release. Aside from last year’s, I’ve reviewed every edition right back to the beginning. And this is right up there quality-wise with all the rest. If you’ve liked it in the past, you probably still will. I know I do.

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Rossville Union Bottled in Bond Straight Rye Whiskey, 2023

I’d like to thank ByrnePR and Ross & Squibb Distillery for providing this review sample with no strings attached.

Well, hello there, neighbor. I was just sitting down to learn more about Ross & Squibb’s latest rye. Would you like to learn about it, too?

Ok, that’s enough with the Mr. Rogers thing. So, I’m still working my way through the massive number of samples that arrived while I was on vacation, and the next on the docket is one of a couple from Ross & Squibb, formerly known as the retail brand portion of MGP.

Rossville Union Bottled-in-Bond is a six-year-old Bonded Rye distilled in March 2017. It uses their 51% rye / 49% malted barley mash bill. They produced 3,000 6-bottle cases. And the suggested retail price is $49.99. Quoting from the Press Release:

“I’m proud to continue Ross & Squibb’s tradition of creating high-quality rye whiskey that dates back to 1847. Since that time, we have worked to perfect our craft, giving our rye whiskeys unmatched character,” said [Master Distiller Ian] Stirsman. “For our Rossville Union Bottled in Bond Straight Rye Whiskey we combined our industry leading rye expertise with a new high malt mashbill to create something truly special.  We then let the barrels mature for a minimum of 6 years, resulting in aromas of sweet malt, dark chocolate, raisin and saddle leather with tasting notes highlighted by caramel and mocha with a rich, candied-fruit body, followed by a slight green-apple, malted-chocolate and cinnamon finish.”

So, they mention that this is a new mash bill. Looking back on past reviews that I’ve done for Rossville Union, I see that I mentioned this mash bill, as an aside, back in 2018 when I reviewed my first bottle from the brand. But I no longer see it on the MGP product sheet, so either they stopped making it and are using up the stocks or pulled it for in-house use. After tasting it, I’m guessing the latter, but that is just a guess.

Now onto the important part, how does it taste?

Rossville Union Bottled in Bond Straight Rye Whiskey, 2023

Purchase Info: This sample bottle was provided by the producer for review purposes. The suggested retail price is $49.99

Price per Drink (50 mL): $3.33

Details: 50% ABV. 6 years old. Mash bill: 51% rye, 49% malted barley.

Nose: Cedar, spearmint, and a touch of vanilla.

Mouth: Sweet and spicy with notes of spearmint, caramel, oak, stone fruits, apple, and cinnamon.

Finish: Sweet, warm, and long with notes of spearmint, cinnamon, and stone fruit.

Thoughts: With just rye and malted barley, I wasn’t sure what to expect with this one. Corn can help add a nicer mouthfeel to a rye, and I wondered if this would be an issue here. But nothing to worry about in that respect. This is a pretty damn good rye! I'm enjoying the heck out of it. It’s sweet and spicy with a very prominent spearmint note. It has really nice fruit notes. If you like a well-balanced rye, pick this one up. $50 for a limited release is a pretty good price.

Did you enjoy this post? If you want to support the work going on here at BourbonGuy.com, please consider a one-time donation at ko-fi.com/bourbonguy or paypal.me/BourbonGuy. Or you could buy some merch (tasting journals, stickers, pins, posters, and more) at BourbonGuyGifts.com.

Remus Highest Rye Straight Bourbon Whiskey

I’d like to thank ByrnePR and Lux Row for providing this review sample with no strings attached.

Well, I’m officially on vacation. The last pup went home today. The last bit of client work was finished, and tomorrow is that glorious day when I just have to finish the last few thin…oh who am I kidding? The day before vacation is the most stressful time of the entire trip. I don’t know about you, but I can’t help thinking, “What if I forget something?” The rational answer is, of course, “Well…they have stores in Washington, Oregon, and California. You can just go buy something to replace the (probably small) thing you forgot.” But humans, as you might have discovered, are rarely the rational creatures we pretend to be.

But before I head out on vacation, we need to talk about the new bourbon from Ross & Squibb.

Remus Highest Rye Straight Bourbon Whiskey is taking naming very literally. With a mashbill of 51% corn, 39% rye, and 10% malted rye, there is no mathematical way that a bourbon could have more rye in the mashbill and still be bourbon. At 49% rye, it is two percentage points from being a rye whiskey. We talk about the Kentucky-style “barely legal” rye all the time. But this might be my first “barely legal” bourbon. The 109° proof bourbon is a permanent, year-round line extension and will be sold nationwide for a suggested retail price of $54.99.

Now, let’s dig in and see if it is any good.

Remus Highest Rye Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Purchase Info: This bottle was sent at no charge for review purposes. The suggested retail price is $54.99.

Price per Drink (50 mL): $3.67

Details: 6 years old. 54.5% ABV.

Nose: Mint, almond, and a touch of cinnamon and oak.

Mouth: Sweet with a vibrant heat that sneaks up on you as you hold it in the mouth to tease out notes of honey, oak, mint, and cinnamon.

Finish: Medium in length and warmth. Notes of cinnamon red hot candies, honey, and a sharp oak.

Thoughts: This is a killer bourbon at $55. It is sweet and warm, but even at 109° proof, it is very drinkable neat. I am not picking up much influence from the malted rye, but for me, that's a good thing as I don't really care for the flavor that malted rye usually brings. This will undoubtedly be part of the rotation of bourbons I occasionally pick up after I see it land on local store shelves.

Did you enjoy this post? If you want to support the work going on here at BourbonGuy.com, please consider a one-time donation at ko-fi.com/bourbonguy or paypal.me/BourbonGuy. Or you could buy some merch (tasting journals, stickers, pins, posters, and more) at BourbonGuyGifts.com.

Ezra Brooks 99 Proof Straight Rye Whiskey

Before we get started, I would like to thank everyone for their well-wishes while I recovered from a mental health emergency. Knowing that I wasn’t letting people down by not publishing helped me to not worry and allowed me to get back to a stable spot a little quicker.

A few months ago, I started getting comments from readers that the standard Ezra Brooks 90 proof was disappearing from shelves. The Lux Row PR guy I talked to reassured me that it hadn’t been discontinued. But then, a few months later, the shoe dropped, and it was removed from the Ezra Brooks site. I know that a lot of folks were disappointed in that, but honestly, I almost never bought the 90-proof version. Especially once the 99-proof version became readily available.

So it wasn’t a huge surprise when I saw this bottle of 99-proof Ezra Brooks rye sitting on the shelf of a local liquor store instead of the former 90-proof version. Of course I grabbed it, thinking that it might be fun to compare it to the Rebel 100 Rye that we looked at a couple of weeks ago. Especially since they are both coming from the same producer. It was the cheapest thing I bought that day.

Now you might be asking yourself: ok, so what is the difference between Ezra Brooks 99 Rye and Rebel 100 Rye? And to that, I can confirm…one proof point. Beyond that is just speculation on my part. There isn’t a lot of info out there other than the website. I’m guessing they didn't do a big rollout of this one since they just did the Rebel 100 rollout. The one thing that I would love a little clarification on is the mash bill. The website contradicts itself. It says that the mash bill is 51% rye, 45% corn, and 4% malted barley. It also says that the ingredients are rye and barley. No corn was mentioned. Since this comes from their corporate cousins at MGP, I’m not sure which is the typo, as MGP makes both kinds of rye. So, for the time being, let’s just look at the juice in the jug, and I’ll update the post if I hear back from the PR folks. I had a huge email outage over the last few days, so who knows what got lost.

(UPDATE 05/15/23: I just got the press release for Ezra Brooks 99 Rye and the juice is the 51% rye mashbill. Their website has also been updated.)

Ezra Brooks 99 Straight Rye Whiskey

Purchase Info: $26.99 for a 750 mL bottle at South Lyndale Liquors, Minneapolis, MN

Price per Drink (50 ml): $1.80

Details: 2 years old. 49.5% ABV. Distilled in Indiana.

Nose: Mint, cedar, honey, and coriander.

Mouth: Cinnamon, mint, honey, and cedar.

Finish: On the longer side of medium. Herbal with additional notes of baking spice and black tea.

Thoughts: Though all signs point to this being pretty much the same as the Rebel 100 Rye that we looked at a couple of weeks ago, there are subtle differences. However, it is hard to know if that is due to Rebel 100 being from the bottom of the bottle versus the Ezra Brooks 99 Rye being from the top, if it is in my imagination, or if there is an actual difference in the barrels that are chosen for each. As I said, the differences are subtle, with the Rebel 100 Rye being sweeter when I taste them side-by-side.

That said, though, this is a tasty rye. I'm digging the herbal notes I'm getting throughout. I even had to raid my spice rack to find the Corriander on the nose. Works well in cocktails too. This one gets a smile from me.

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