Company: Heaven HillVol: 40%Age: NASClassification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon WhiskeyBreakdown: Unknown entirely but the general assumption is that it is 20% wheatPrice: c. £26PreambleOuch! Looking back at the original review from March 2017, we were v…
Company: Heaven Hill Vol: 40% Age: NAS Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Breakdown: Unknown entirely but the general assumption is that it is 20% wheat Price: c. £26
Preamble
Ouch! Looking back at the original review from March 2017, we were very much unimpressed with this bourbon. We certainly don’t remember being that harsh on Rebel Yell but, as with all our reviews, it was a wholehearted honest opinion at the time, as has been our goal from day zero. That’s what we’re known for throughout the whole of England. When we are noticed walking down the streets of ye olde England wearing our most stylish finery and bespoke headwear, folks stop and say out loud “There goes the honest Bourbon Gents, they say it how it really is” …
Anyway back to reality, with Rebel Yell being scored the joint second lowest rating on the site, is there any wonder that the folks at Heaven Hill haven’t yet reached out to us and showered us with free whiskey? Or maybe it’s just because we are two simpletons from England and they actually couldn’t give a monkey’s what we say? Maybe we should decide via a twitter poll?
Now enough with this pontificating. The underwhelming Rebel Yell standard offering didn’t stop us reaching into our pockets, trying and buying other whiskies from the Rebel Yell stable. Rebel Yell Small Batch is much more to our liking at 46.3% ABV giving it obviously more oomph alongside dark fruits, raisins and vanilla. The Small Batch is now not showing on the official Rebel Yell website, so we’re not sure if it’s discontinued? It is though still easily obtainable for now in the UK. A bottle of their Small Batch Rye also dropped into our shopping basket. It’s a 2 year old MGP offering which is a solid enough rye for the price but it won’t blow you away either.
The entire brand had a makeover in 2019. The new bottles feature an embossed rounded shoulder in addition to updated front and back labels. The bottle is topped with a matted capsule closure and a natural cork. Introduced to the range at the same time was the Rebel Yell 100, which is conveniently bottled at 100 proof, should be worth checking out when you can and to see what that extra proof delivers. Roll forward to late 2020 and another rebrand, the complete range is now just known as Rebel. That’s right they’ve dropped the Yell. Didn’t even notice the change when we first looked at their website! What’s a Yell amongst friends anyway?
With a Rebel Yell, she cried more, more, more…
With a Rebel, she cried more, more, more… doesn’t quite work does it!
Review Updated - January 2021
History
The history of Rebel Yell is entwined with some of the giant names of the bourbon world. Owned by Luxco, distilled and bottled under contract by Heaven Hill at their Bernheim distillery in Louisville Kentucky. The juice itself is made using the W L Weller’s original wheat bourbon recipe, which dates back to 1849, and was created at the site of what would eventually become the Stitzel-Weller distillery and sold under the logo “Honest whiskey at an honest price”. The brand name of Rebel Yell was introduced in 1936 and originally only distributed to the southern states of America. It took nearly another 50 years before this changed and it was distributed further nationally and overseas.
Aside from this standard offering there is also a Small Batch Reserve, Small Batch Rye, American Whiskey (a blend of bourbon and rye) and a 10 year old Single Barrel, which we have heard is an absolute little cracker!
It allegedly has a number of famous fans, with Mick Jagger and Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones probably the most famous. The story also goes that Billy Idol’s 1983 hit Rebel Yell was inspired by seeing The Stones necking the bourbon!
The Review
Nose
What we got – Sweet, oak, wood, cherry (Mav), butter (Mr Pie), creamy, nuts,
What they say we should get - Honey, vanilla, slightly woody raisin and candy sticks
Palate
What we got – Wood, honey (Mr Pie), quite dry, nuts, fruits of some kind (Mav being very vaugue there)
What they say we should get – Sultanas, nectarine and hints of prune. Vanilla throughout
Finish
What we got – Too short, weak and to us it felt a bit watery
What they say we should get – Warming pressed apple
Summary
To be honest (which from day one was always our goal), this bourbon is somewhat disappointing. The availability of it in the UK is poor and access seems to be only via on-line portals.
The price of £26 is a little steep for what it actually delivers. The nose is a little deceptive as first impressions are good and you would think on the nose alone that the ABV level is higher than the bourbon minimum. Overall it is a little bit rough around the edges and would benefit from a few further years in the barrel. Most of us already know that the Van Winkle’s seem to have nailed the wheated bourbon market but they wait 10 years before it is released and drinking this indicates why.
You are able to pick out honey, fruits and nuts which are all very pleasant but overall it is very very short and wishy washy. It is known as bottom shelf bourbon in the US and as you can imagine, it is inexpensive. Saying all of this, we would not be put off trying others in the range and we’ve not heard a bad word about the 10 year old single barrel. If you live in the UK, and want to spend £26 on wheated bourbon, the Gents recommend you go grab yourself a bottle of Maker’s Mark.
