Rebel Yell Kentucky Straight Bourbon (Discontinued)

My bottle just reads REBEL (no Yell), so I hope it's the same one. Pours a gold orange color. The nose is lacquered wood, spicy ribbon candy. Peanut dust. The barrel spices just flavor above the glass. There is a peppery spice that manifests like fennel or black licorice. Some sulfuric cabbage/broccoli water. But the final inhale is a perfume of rose petals. Right off the bat, the first taste is spices: black pepper, rye, cinnamon. There is a sawdust and wood mid-palate. Brown leaves. Peanut. A little bit of corn syrup, with some sugary malted barley. With some ice, some stewed red apple emerges. The finish is long and luxurious. The woodiness is more resinous and oily than the dryness of the first taste. Chocolate and bitter mocha. Almonds. There is an earthy, leafy dryness. The burn is very long-lasting. The barrel leaves behind some tannins as well as some residual spices. Rebel (Yell) is an incredibly woody bourbon with a nice secondary burn at the sides of the palate. Peppery, nutty and spicy with a long finish.

The now discontinued Rebel Yell (seems to be more of just a label change) is an entry-level bourbon that can be pretty much ignored. In no way is it bad, it's just boring and it would probably be very hard to tell the difference between this and other entry-level bourbons. The nose is pretty faint, leading with corn and some hay. The palate is very standard fare. Vanilla and some oak are the prominent flavors here. The finish is short, but tame with a touch of pepper. At less than $20 a bottle, it's not surprising that it's pretty uninspiring. There are better bourbons in this price range (like Evan williams) but it's not awful. I'm just not sure what this brings to the table than what most have had before. If it's offered, sure take it, but if I'm out I wouldn't look for this.

Probably one of the last bottles I’ll crack for awhile. This was a gift from my brother in law 6 months ago and who comes home next week. It’s been purposefully neglected but for sake of appearances here we go. I believe this is young Larceny. Light yellow in color. Bananas, new wood, allspice, bubblegum, cashews. Somewhat classic but light. At 80 proof it just tastes watered down. Thin without much flavor but nothing offensive and no burn. Quick splash of vanilla, allspice, wood and then gone. Better than Basil Hayden for those who hate burn. That is not necessarily a complement.

Nose is typical wheated bourbon, but a little weak. Typical is earthy: grass, wet stone, dirt smell after rain. Has the corn and dust of a young bourbon, wheat just smooths out the sharpness and sweet notes for me. Palate is again typical wheated bourbon but an almost stale(?) Note. Finish is moderate but still with the stale note of a mildewy barn. I have revisited this one several times and just don't care for it. There are other spice notes and a few complex parts but the odd end and finish just don't let it become enjoyable for me.

I’m giving it a 3.5 not because it is that good but because anything I taste below that is an indication that I shouldn’t try it again. However I would drink this again. This bourbon is good for what it is a drinkable low end bourbon good over ice not neat which is how I typically prefer my bourbon. I think it is balanced and put it in the same league as four roses and about 25percent less.

First sip is sweet, as you'd expect from a wheated Bourbon, which quickly evaporates. Kind of a light earthy taste as you swallow. Very little burn, but the heat lingers. This won't win any tasting contests, but for the price point, it's an everyday value.