Remus Repeal Reserve Series IV (2020 Medley)

Neat. Neck pour. Butterscotch and cherry leap from the glass. Followed by some very nice sweet oak accompanied by some black pepper. Fantastic cinnamon and all spice. Really digging this nose. At first it just came across as sweet but really ramped up the dark notes as I spent more time with it. The oak is really dominating but not in a bad way. It’s a really good oak. I can’t recall an MGP with an oak note this yummy actually. Super creamy and oily, love the mouth feel. Lights up my tongue with brown sugar and cinnamon sweetness. Cherry really come through as well. That sweet oak is front and center again, just a great oak note. Butterscotch, more cherry. Then cherry again throughout the finish and legs. Mmmm yum. There is more fruit emerging as I sit with it, peaches and nectarines. Okay, this is fabulous. $85 and worth every cent. This blend is predominating the low rye MGP Mash and it just brings all these delicious fruit and dessert flavors with such a strong oak note. The oak note is so pronounced and creamy and sweet. I was just okay with Remus batch 2 and 3. I thought it was worth the extra $20-$40 to get a MGP 12 year Single Barrel. This I will buy again at $85. MGP may be figuring out how to release their own juice finally.

Nose- Vanilla, stewed peaches, caramel drizzle. Nose is not as pronounced as III and is slightly a bit boozier Palate- big on vanilla, caramel, with some nice spices like nutmeg and allspice. I find it spicier- which is odd as this is predominately lower rye whiskies than the last one. I like the spice but I miss some of the fruitier notes like the fig and plum I found in the earlier version. Where III seems more subtle on spice IV, seems unabashedly spice forward-- a palate preference and not a knock. Absent for me is the anise note that I liked on III. Finish- A bit drier than III and perhaps a bit more woody. Not in a bad way but definately a different finish. Like wine-- some like a dry red, some like a fruitier white. This is all about preference and not anything against craftsmanship. Overall the finish is nice and full, with the same vibrance. Verdict- I am still a III devotee. Although I really dig IV and it is worth the ticketed price, III is more for me. Where IV is a triple in my book, III knocks it more out of the park. I think the blenders at MGP did it again! Another quality, well under $100 limited release. No idea why these sit on shelves.

Guess no gym tonight, but this is a nice dram! Nose - so 21 and 36% rye, you KNOW you're getting SPICE. And this this does just that, that rye MGP spice, but there's a huge hit of insane sweetness. It's oddly dusty. Plenty of fruity notes but no distinct fruit profile. The earthy vegetable and just intense caramel and vanilla and then shockingly low but still wonderful oak. Baking spices come off as it opens up and really becomes more enjoyable. MGP showcase for sure. Taste - So I have to compare this briefly to the other repeals and I'll just leave it with, this is a SWEET BOMB. This has spearmint, apple spices, cinnamon, vanilla, and god this is great. So complex and rich and just goes on for days. That said it's not the batch III. Just wonderful wonderful bourbon. I'm doing a 3.25, it's an awesome mix of flavors but for now 3.25. I think the batch III is noticeably better and while this is really nice, and it's a must buy in the bourbon market at 85 bucks, it's not a 150-200 dollar scotch that would normally be in those higher scores range.

1st class MGP is getting more and more expensive and hard to find. This is a 12 year old version blended from two different high rye mash bills. That information is right on the front label. The proof is 100. I like the transparency. Rich oak fragrances jump from the glass. I love sniffing this one. The taste is true to the nose but it's not particularly complex. Don't get me wrong this is a really good bourbon but it's basic good as opposed to 80 a bottle good. I have tried three Remus products over the last couple months and liked them all. I think the single barrel at barrel proof is slightly better and 15 bucks less. The base version is 94 proof and gives this one a run for the money. There are a lot of 40-50 bourbons that are readily available and equally good or better. I'm looking at you Rare Breed and Four Roses SiB

This batch IV of the Remus Repeal Reserve comes about as close to a perfect 5 start bourbon as any bottle I've ever had. I'm a huge fan of a high rye mash bill, and this combines MGP's 21% and 36% rye mash bills together at a 3:1 ratio, all aged at least 12 years - and I love that they tell you all of this right on the front of the label! It is a quintessential bourbon profile with a great balance of sweetness and spice which coats the palate, and finishes with a lingering oak dryness and rye spice. I have been a big fan of RRR since the first batch (which is now underwhelming in comparison to the others), and this latest batch is the best one yet!

Nose: boozy apple juice, smoky charcoal, roasted walnuts, drunken cherries Palate: caramel, cherries, brown sugar, hint of menthol, strawberry waaay at the end Finish: some astringent wood, fresh red fruit, some pepper on back of the tongue, the walnuts make a reappearance With water: makes it very smooth, flavor profile consistent, but you lose the punch of flavor intensity. One to drink neat if youre looking to analyse it. But, its great with one large rock if you want to just sip and enjoy Sips smooth for its proof. I thought the mouthfeel was a little thin. Good bourbon overall.