Rebel Yell Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Review

Rebel Yell

Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Wheated Bourbon

Rebel Yell Distillery/Luxco

Louisville, Kentucky

80 Proof (40% Alcohol)

Many of the whiskeys I've reviewed here have for whatever reason been higher-end bourbons and scotches, including of course the annually impressive George T. Stagg bourbon.  But, that's not an everyday type of whiskey.  So, here we go, a cheap whiskey for today's review: Rebel Yell.

Now when I say cheap, this isn't even close to being the cheapest whiskey you can buy, but it's definitely not in the same category as Stagg, Wild Turkey Rare Breed, or Pappy van Winkle.  That's not to say it's bad, not at all.

Rebel Yell is a Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey bottled at the industry standard 80 Proof and has no age statement.  It's a wheated whiskey, which means it is made with wheat in the mashbill, making it a tad softer, sweeter, and gentler.  And like Maker's Mark, Pappy, and a few of those others, I believe has no rye in the mashbill.  Rye of course, lends a spicy kick.  This has none.

Rebel Yell pours a light gold color (see photo above) and has aromas of vanilla, a touch of oak, and a vague underlying sweetness not unlike a pure corn whiskey.  Tasting one gets flavors of light butterscotch, hints of oak and vanilla, and a moderate youthful alcohol burn.  

Simple, light, straightforward and young.  Not bad, but not great either.  Rebel Yell is smooth enough to drink neat, but in my mind this is really a bourbon that's perfect for mixing.  Over the course of my bottle, I had several Whiskey Sours, Bourbon and Ginger, and a Bourbon Mint Julep all of which were held up well by this sweet, youthful bourbon.  I've had much worse at the under $20 bourbon price-range, that's for sure!

Drink This: if you want a wheated bourbon under $20 that's good for cocktails.

Don't Drink This: if you're looking for an impressive whiskey to sip neat and savor slowly.

Cheers, my friends!

Please drink responsibly...