Rebel Single Barrel Cask Strength Bourbon (Friends of Oliver)

Rebel Cask Strength: Barrel #7533024 (11/2/16) "Friends of Oliver" A group representing 2 local Restaurants (Oliver's on the Cape Fear and Moore St Oyster Bar) recently selected a barrel of Rebel and a barrel of Ezra Brooks. Barreled in November of '16 this clocks in somewhere between 4-5 years old. *NOSE: Brown Sugar, Maple, Cocoa, and Oak. After a bit the Vegetal Note that I get from Heaven Hill's wheated mashbill starts to dominate. It reminds me of Sweet Potato, which luckily pairs well with the Brown Sugar and Maple notes. There is a bit of heat, but not as much as expected for the proof. *NEAT: Mouthfeel is Thick and Coating. Sweet Potato with Cinnamon Butter and Brown Sugar. There are also notes of Tea and Cherry Syrup on the Finish. Fairly Hot with a Big KY Hug growing in the chest. Slightly Dry Oak and Cherry coat and linger on the entire palate. Definitely one of the clingiest whiskies I've had in a while. *SPLASH: Nose and Palate both get a bit of Orange Peel and Mulling Spice. There is a hint of Melted Salted Butter and some Herbal Black Licorice. The Cherry becomes less sweet and more Medicinal in quality. *VERDICT: I really like this. The mouthfeel was incredible. Two hours later and I was still tasting it on my cheeks and gums. I don't know what Luxco does to HH's Larceny, but whatever it is improves it a great deal. I find Larceny drinks hotter than its proof, is overly tannic, and the vegetal note too dominant. Of course, this being a Single Barrel, your mileage may vary, but this is so much better than the bottle of Larceny Barrel Proof that I have. In fact, to verify I poured a dram to compare and the Larceny was an astringent, overly tannic, bitter mess. I like that Luxco is offering these picks and I will definitely take a flier on another if I see one.