Average

Rebel 100 6 Year Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Rebel 100 6 Year Straight Bourbon Whiskey

50% ABV
$60
Website
Rebel 100 6 Year Straight Bourbon Whiskey
We would like to thank Luxco and BYRNE PR for sending us a sample to review.

What the Distillery Says

ST. LOUIS (March 7, 2024) – Lux Row Distillers announced the introduction of Rebel 100 6-Year Bourbon, handcrafted according to the original, time-honored wheated recipe since 1849. The new addition will be available nationwide later this month at a suggested retail price of $59.99 per 750 ml bottle.

Rebel 100 6-Year Bourbon champions authenticity while defying uniformity. Bottled at six years and 100 proof (50% ABV), the golden amber bourbon features an aroma containing rich scents of vanilla and honey; a palate of dark fruits followed by citrus and oak; and a velvety smooth finish with just a hint of
spice.

“Rebel 100 6-Year demonstrates that age is never a bad thing,” said Lux Row Distillers Master Distiller John Rempe. “The combination of spotlighting our original recipe and aging it for six years resulted in a rich and rebellious, full flavor bourbon that I think will resonate with consumers. Six years is a long time to wait, but the wait was worth it.”

What Gary Says

Nose: Vanilla, caramel, freshly hewn oak, brown sugar, honey, cinnamon and nutmeg.
Palate: Vanilla, caramel, sour oak, bit of cinnamon, orange zest and cloves.
Finish:  Moderate in length, drying with oak, citrus spice and honey.
Comments: I’m not sure if it’s the particular mash bill, but for whatever reason the wheated Rebel bourbons just haven’t hit right in my wheelhouse. This one is ok, although not special – and while prices aren’t what they were 10 years ago, at this price point I’d be disappointed. There’s a bit of a sour oak note which I don’t mind, but some might not be a fan of. I’ll admit that while I appreciate wheated bourbon, I probably lean more towards a rye mash bill more often than not.

Rating: Average

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Luminar Mezcal Añejo

Luminar Mezcal Añejo

40% ABV
$45
Website
Luminar Mezcal Anejo

What the Bottle Says

100% Agave | Aged In Oak For One Year
PROTECTED APPELLATION OF ORIGIN
MADE IN MEXICO

Origin: Zacatecas. Agave tequilana

What Gary Says

DISCLAIMER: I’m a whisk(e)y enthusiast, and not familiar with Mezcal (so read at your own risk!)
Nose:  Sweet, subtle with vanilla, honey and oak.
Palate:  Sweet with vanilla and honey, just a hint of oak.
Finish:  Short and drying with vanilla and a bit of pepper.
Comments: This is similar to the Luminar Mezcal Reposado, except the additional months in oak seem to rob it of its character, leaving it mellow but flat. I expected to like this the most, but in fact this was my least favorite of the three. This could have been a mashbill of almost anything, which was disappointing.

Rating: Average

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Luminar Mezcal Reposado

Luminar Mezcal Reposado

40% ABV
$33
Website
Luminar Mezcal Reposado

What the Bottle Says

100% Agave | Aged In Oak For Three Months
PROTECTED APPELLATION OF ORIGIN
MADE IN MEXICO

Origin: Zacatecas. Agave tequilana

What Gary Says

DISCLAIMER: I’m a whisk(e)y enthusiast, and not familiar with Mezcal (so read at your own risk!)
Nose:  Sweet, vegetal with green pepper, touch of vanilla and honey, only a hint of cigar smoke and a bit of detergent.
Palate:  Viscous, sweet with vanilla, a touch of corn and honey.
Finish:  Short and drying, sweet with honey, vanilla and roasted corn.
Comments: Very similar to the Luminar Mezcal Joven, except with bits of vanilla and honey. In color, this has just a subtle, golden hue. Also similar is the noticeable absence of smoke. While I liked this better than the Joven, that’s not a ringing endorsement.

Rating: Average

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Luminar Mezcal Joven

Luminar Mezcal Joven

40% ABV
$30
Website
Luminar Mezcal Joven

What the Bottle Says

100% Agave
PROTECTED APPELLATION OF ORIGIN
MADE IN MEXICO

Origin: Zacatecas. Agave tequilana

What Gary Says

DISCLAIMER: I’m a whisk(e)y enthusiast, and not familiar with Mezcal (so read at your own risk!)
Nose:  Sweet, vegetal with fresh but mild green pepper, only a hint of cigar smoke.
Palate:  Viscous, sweet with a vegetal note and a hint of corn and honey.
Finish:  Short and drying, sweet with roasted corn.
Comments: Picked up a 50 mL of this along with two other Luminar offerings. Some of the reviews I’ve read on this called out that it is more like a tequila than a mezcal. While not terribly familiar with either, this definitely isn’t smokey like I’ve come to expect with mezcal. Pretty uninspiring and forgettable.

Rating: Average

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Dewar’s 12 Year vs Dewar’s 12 Year

Dewar’s 12-Year-Old (older vs newer)
Blended Scotch Whisky

40% ABV
$25-30
Website

Comparing Older vs Newer Bottling

If the older one isn’t being made anymore, why bother? Well, when I posted a review in 2022 of the newer version, someone commented that they tried it and didn’t like it – preferring the older version. I hadn’t had Dewar’s 12 in ages, so I sought to find an older bottling in case this helps fans of the label with how they are different.  This comparison is from a couple of blind side-by-side comparisons, and is focused on the differences.

The Differences

 

Older
Newer
Package
Colored Glass Bottle

Dewar's 12 Year Blended Scotch older bottle

Clear Glass Bottle

Dewars 12 Year Old Blended Scotch Whisky

What Gary Found Different

Older
Newer
Nose:Subtle with apples, vanilla, floral notes and malt.Richer with honey suckle, apples, pears, vanilla, peaches, subtle soft smoke with an earthy mineral note.
Palate:Creamy with a round mouthfeel, vanilla, malt, pears, apples, honey and a subtle earthy note.Creamy mouthfeel with more flavor intensity, fruity with peaches, kiwi, pears, apples and a bit of nutmeg.
Finish:Moderate in length, damp with honey and dried fruit.Moderate in length with vanilla, honey and fruit notes (pretty similar here).
Comments:Nothing off-putting here to me, but also nothing that really stands out. This reminds me of what I had thought ‘blended scotch’ was before I had experienced some truly remarkable blends (thanks Compass Box for opening my eyes there!)When I was sent a sample of this to review last year, I was really surprised by how much I liked it.  6 months after that review was posted, a reader remarked on it that he much preferred the old, so I sought a bottle of the older version out for just this tasting.  Glad I did, as I’ll sleep well knowing I don’t need to go and dusty hunt for them!  This is absolutely a step up in my opinion; more flavor depth and complexity for the same price?  Thank you Dewars!
Rating:
Average
Stands Out/Must Try

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