Rebel Bourbon Single Barrel 10 - 50%

From the Distillery website: 

Aged in charred oak barrels for 10 years, this bourbon boasts a unique flavor profile specific to each batch. It’s one-of-a-kind, just like the rebels who drink it.

Hints of caramel and citrus on your first sips. But continue drinking and it morphs into a velvety oak flavor with unabashed spice.

Available in the UK from The Bottle Club, this special bourbon is distilled and aged in Bardstown, Kentucky, USA by Lux Row Distillers.

Tasting notes:

Appearance: Copper coloured, forms a thin line which beads before falling as slow, thin legs.

Nose: Caramel sweetness, green apple, red fruits, vanilla, Brazil nuts and pear drops.

Palate: An initial prickle of peppery spice is followed by peanut brittle, Brazil nut toffee, sweetcorn, orange and lemon citrus, sour cherry sweets, toffee apples, strawberry laces and a touch of cinnamon warmth. With water, the mouthfeel becomes creamier with more red fruits.

Finish: Quite long, caramel toffee, marzipan and prickly spice subside to leave lingering notes of bitter, woody oak and a little acetone.

Summary: It’s an interesting one, lots of sweet caramel and vanilla intermingled with citrus and nutty notes. I did struggle with the finish, the extra years in the barrel have brought through a little too much woody oak for me, and there was an unusual, solvent-like note which stayed around too long. That’s just my palate though, and I’ve no doubt there will be many bourbon lovers out there can’t get enough of it.

If you would like to know more about Rebel Bourbon, their whiskies and their ethos, follow the link to their website

Thanks to Steve at The Whisky Wire for the @TweetTastings invitation to give this one a whirl.

Transparency: this sample was received free of charge for independent review. The author has no affiliation with the distillers and no goods or other incentives were exchanged, offered or requested.