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MGP is the massive Indiana distillery that makes whiskey for a bunch of other well-known brands, including Bulleit, Brother’s Bond, WhistlePig, and Redemption. But the distillery also releases whiskey under its own brand names, which in turn fall under the Ross & Squibb moniker that was created when the distillery merged with drinks company Luxco in 2021. One of the best of the distillery’s labels is Remus Repeal Reserve, and the latest release is a blend of three high-rye bourbons that make it the spiciest expression to date.
Remus Repeal Reserve was named after bootlegger George Remus, a man with a nefarious and sometimes problematic history who nevertheless was an important figure during Prohibition. Series VIII is the latest release, a blend of three of MGP’s high-rye bourbon mashbills that were aged for 10 and 17 years: 9 percent 17-year-old bourbon (21 percent rye), 24 percent 10-year-old bourbon (21 percent rye), and 67 percent 10-year-old bourbon (36 percent rye).
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Rye is a common secondary flavoring grain in bourbon, which must be made from a mashbill of at least 51 percent corn, but the proportion usually falls somewhere around 10 percent so this combination of high-rye mashbills edges the palate into spicier, fruitier territory. “We wanted to push the boundaries with this eighth edition by doing several things differently than in the past,” said Ross & Squibb master distiller Ian Stirsman in a statement. “We increased the proportion of the high-rye recipe bourbon compared to previous editions and returned to non-chill filtration to keep the viscosity and mouthfeel intact. We also blind-tasted the final blend at different proofs and found the 101 proof to be the favorite.” Official tasting notes describe cherry, candied pecans, and a hint of leather on the nose, with maple syrup, fig, vanilla, and oak on the palate and baking spice on the finish.
The Remus lineup gets even better with Remus Gatsby Reserve, a limited-edition 15-year-old bourbon that comes out once a year and is well worth seeking out. Details about the 2024 release are not available as of yet, but we will let you know when we have them. In the meantime, you can find Remus Repeal Reserve available to purchase at liquor stores and from websites like ReserveBar (SRP $100, check to see which series you are buying), along with other whiskeys in the Remus lineup.
