Must Buy

Remus Repeal Reserve Series IX Straight Bourbon Whiskey

/ / Bourbon, Review / ,

Remus Repeal Reserve Series IX
Straight Bourbon Whiskey

52% ABV
$100
Website
Remus Repeal Reserve Series IX Straight Bourbon Whiskey
We would like to thank Luxco and BYRNE PR for sending us samples to review.

What the Distillery Says

The oldest and highest proof ever.

Remus Bourbon, the award-winning whiskey inspired by the roaring spirit of the Prohibition era, announced the release of Remus Repeal Reserve Series IX Straight Bourbon Whiskey. The highly anticipated annual release from the historic Ross & Squibb Distillery in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, is a rare bourbon comprising their best stocks.

Aged between 10 and 18 years, the 104 proof (52% ABV) non-chill filtered Remus Repeal Reserve Series IX is the highest proof ever for the series. A limited supply will be available in September at a minimum suggested retail price of $99.99 per 750mL bottle.

Crafted to honor the repeal of Prohibition in 1933, Ross & Squibb Master Distiller Ian Stirsman selected the finest barrels of high rye bourbon, for which the distillery is renowned, to create this year’s edition. Remus Repeal Reserve IX includes 7% of an 18-year-aged bourbon containing 21% rye; 26% of an 11-year-aged bourbon comprising 36% rye; 23% of a 10-year-aged bourbon containing 36% rye; and 44% of a second 10-year-aged bourbon comprising 21% rye.

Remus Repeal Reserve Series IX features an aroma of seasoned oak, leather, ripe sweet cherry and subtle tobacco on the nose with prominent flavors of cherry, roasted coffee and a touch of smoky spice on the palate; and lingering oak and spice that fades into notes of coffee, cherry and tobacco in the finish.

“Bourbon fans have always expected something new from each edition of Remus Repeal Reserve,” said Stirsman. “That’s why for Remus Repeal Reserve Series IX, we found some of our most unique barrels to date. After finalizing the blend, we blind-tasted it at different proofs to ensure we provide fans with the unique experience they expect. In the end, we believe the 104 proof, combined with 10-18-year-old bourbons, did just that.”

Since its inaugural release, the Remus Repeal Reserve collection has earned a multitude of notable recognitions and awards. Remus Repeal Reserve VIII earned a platinum medal at the 2025 ASCOT Awards, a double gold medal at the 2025 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, and a gold medal and Consumer’s Choice Award at the 2025 SIP Awards. Additional key accolades for the esteemed collection include No. 1 Best Bourbon Under $100 by UPROXX, Top 5 Limited Bourbons and Whiskeys by Men’s Journal, Whiskey of the Year by WhiskeyFellow and a 98-point rating and a double gold medal from The Tasting Panel.

Remus Repeal Reserve Series IX is comprised of:

  • 7% 2006 Bourbon (21% Rye)
  • 26% 2014 Bourbon (36% Rye)
  • 23% 2015 Bourbon (36% Rye)
  • 44% 2015 Bourbon (21% Rye)

What Gary Says

Nose: Rich with chocolate fudge, caramel, brown sugar, crème brûlée, bit of cherry with hints of tobacco and a mineral note.
Palate: Creamy mouthfeel with chocolate, walnuts, caramel, cinnamon, nutmeg, cherry and nougat.
Finish: Long and syrupy with caramel, bit of coffee and nutty oak.
Comments: When I first nosed this, my brain immediately thought about a candy bar; all of those notes came wafting out of the glass. This is a delicious pour, right from the bottle! A few drops of water brings a hint of citrus zest to the nose, and more creaminess to the palate, but I really enjoy this right at the bottled proof (and appreciate the higher ABV!) Also appreciate the transparency on where it’s distilled, the vintage/mashbill and the proportions included! I just so happened to have some left from my sample of Remus Repeal Reserve Series VII (back in 2023) which I really enjoyed, so I did a little side-by-side tasting. This year’s won hands down! A few shades darker in the glass, while there is a familial resemblance between them, this had more fudge on the nose by comparison, and the 2023 leaned more into maple/fruit. Interesting enough, both bottles share similar components, with the 2014 Bourbon (36% Rye). What was used in each batch might not have been distilled at the same time, so not sure it’s the exact same liquid – but it was 21% of the 2023 mix and 26% of this one. The mix of mashbill here is 49% the higher rye vs 47% in the 2023, so not terribly different there. In any event, this is one I would not pass up the chance if you see it as it isn’t likely to linger long!

Rating: Must Try/Must Buy

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Longmorn 1996 23 Year Old Sherry Cask

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky, Speyside /

Longmorn 1996 23 Year Old Sherry Cask Signatory The Whisky Exchange
Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky

58.8% ABV
$335
Website
Longmorn 1996 23 Year Old Sherry Cask for TWE Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky Signatory

What the Retailer Says

Matured in a single first-fill sherry butt for more than two decades, this 1996 Longmorn single malt was bottled by Signatory Vintage in August 2019, exclusively for The Whisky Exchange’s 20th Anniversary.
Bottling Date: August 2019
No of Bottles: 433
Cask Type: First-Fill Sherry Butt
Cask Number: 105100

Tasting Notes (from Billy Abbott)
Nose: To quote a certain anchorman: rich mahogany – both the colour and the first thing out of the glass. There are some leather-bound books as well, but beforehand this dives head-first into a bowl of dried fruit: dates, cherries, prunes and the expected raisins. There’s a touch of barrel-char smokiness behind the fruit, with a spoonful of brown sugar making sure it doesn’t get too much.
Palate: Softer than expected from the nose, but still thick and very rich. Malt loaf with cherry jam; liquorice sticks dipped in brown sugar; toasted schwarzbrot with honey. Clove-heavy speculaas biscuits sit at the back, with bitter liquorice pastels and a touch of charred oak.
Finish: Char and concentrated dried fruit hang around with an ever-changing cast of extras: cinnamon toast, blackcurrant jam, singed cloves and sweet liquorice.
Comment: A bit of a beast, but with more complexity than it has any right after 23 years in an active sherry cask. Endless layers of fruit spice.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Dark fruit notes of figs, dates, raisins and cherries, leather, pipe tobacco smoke, oak and raw honey.
Palate:  Thick, viscous and rich with fig, cherry, honey, anise, a bit of cinnamon with cloves, nutmeg, chocolate, walnuts and oak.
Finish:  Long and drying with spiced dates and figs.
Comments:  The words ‘Longmorn’ and ‘Sherry’ combined translate (for me anyways) to ‘happy place’. I have many fond memories of sipping mature sherry-bomb Longmorns on different occasions with whiskey friends, where the dram was improved only by the company (but tasting this one alone – still pretty damned good!) The nose reminds me of sitting in a wood-paneled library full of old books, worn leather furniture and wisps of pipe tobacco in the air (and a rock glass of Scotch, of course). A bit of water brings out a note of blood orange on the nose, and tilts the palate from chocolate towards caramel – but again, this is one I absolutely love neat.

Rating: Must Buy

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Redbreast 19 Year Old Oloroso Sherry Cask Exclusive to The Whisky Exchange

/ / Irish Whiskey, Review / ,

Redbreast 19 Year Old Oloroso Sherry Cask Exclusive to The Whisky Exchange
Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey

58.9% ABV
$320
Website
Redbreast 19 Year Old Oloroso Sherry Cask Exclusive to The Whisky Exchange

What the Retailer Says

This elegantly sherried Redbreast was aged entirely in second-fill oloroso casks, making for a complex dram that balances notes of dried fruit and nuts with the distinctive spiciness of Irish pot still whiskey. After almost two decades in the Midleton distillery warehouses in County Cork, it shows excellent maturity with fine tannins and hints of dark chocolate. Outside of the celebrated core range, there are precious few Redbreast whiskies in the wild, so we are particularly proud to offer this limited-edition bottling exclusively to customers of The Whisky Exchange.

Nose: Opens with notes of black cherry and vanilla, accompanied by light dustings of nutmeg with a sherry nuttiness softly lingering in the background. The pot still spices continue to build along with delicate dried herbs, all gently resting on a solid oak foundation.
Palate: Delicate tannins at first, with the fruits slowly building over time adding hints of stewed apples and prune. The tannins continue to evolve adding dark chocolate undertones that work in harmony with a subtle honey-derived sweetness, complimenting the pot still spices and red liquorice confectionary notes.
Finish: The fading fruits and subtle sweetness allow the oak and sherry seasoning to have the last word, with the tannins lingering until the very end.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Sherried fruit with golden raisins and cherries, vanilla, nutmeg, oak, heather and soft wood spices.
Palate:  Rich mouthfeel, fruity with apples and pears, oak, dark chocolate, honey, baking spices, black cherries and toffee.
Finish:  Long, damp and syrupy with fruit notes.
Comments:  Just lovely and right in my wheelhouse. I’m a big fan of Redbreast, and also a fan of sherried matured/finished whisk(e)y. The use of secondary fill sherry casks rather than first fill is nice and offers more of a balance where the sherry isn’t dominant but isn’t hiding either. A bit of water opens this up, bringing the nose towards more tropical notes of candied pineapple and mango, and on the palate the toffee forward over the dark chocolate. All of that is delicious as well, but I’m drinking the remainder of this sample neat and enjoying every last step of that fruit and dark chocolate dance!

Rating: Must Try/Must Buy

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Parker’s Heritage Collection 10 Year Bourbon Heavy Char Barrels

/ / Bourbon, Review /

Parker’s Heritage Collection Heavy Char Barrels
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Aged 10 Years

60% ABV
$120-150
Website
Parkers Heritage Collection Heavy Char 10 Year Old Bourbon

What the Distillery Says

The 14th edition of Parker’s Heritage Collection features Heaven Hill’s traditional rye Bourbon mashbill, aged in specialty barrels that were charred for a full minute and a half, as opposed to our traditional 40 seconds. These “Level 5” barrels were aged for a full 10 years, where the heavier char allowed the Bourbon to penetrate further into the barrel, bringing forth caramel and maple sweetness. These 102 barrels were aged on the sixth floor of rickhouse Y, and developed a pleasant smokiness after 40 Kentucky seasons of maturation. It is bottled without chill filtration at 120 proof.
TASTING NOTES
Color: Deep copper
Nose: Balanced and fruit forward.
Taste: Smooth, rich marmalade. Sweet but not cloying.
Finish: Very long & warm. Cloves & cinnamon linger.

What Gary Says

Nose: Dark chocolate, graham cracker, roasted marshmallow, caramel, walnuts and oak.
Palate: Creamy mouthfeel, turtle brownies with chocolate, walnuts and caramel, nutmeg and brown sugar.
Finish: Long, syrupy fudge with subtle oak.
Comments: Damn this is just a lovely bourbon! The Parker’s Heritage Collection rarely (can’t say never) disappoints, and this is no exception. This is just a delicious, intense, well balanced pour. I do miss the days when I could find these behind the counter of my local liquor store, but am always thankful for having the opportunity to try someone else’s (thanks Dad!) This was the 2020 release, although my tasting notes are from the summer of 2024. If you see this laying around – I can’t imagine not grabbing it (aside from outrageous overpricing).

Rating: Must Buy

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Compass Box Flaming Heart 2022

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky / ,

Compass Box Flaming Heart 2022
Blended Malt Scotch Whisky

48.9% ABV
$160-200
Website
Compass Box Flaming Heart 2022 Blended Scotch Whisky

What the Blender Says

The whisky inspired by a rock song – remixed​
This is our seventh edition of Flaming Heart, the whisky that revels in the harmonies between heavy peat and toasted French oak. Imagine Metallica with a backing orchestra, and you’re getting close.
With the best bands, each album is an opportunity to explore and experiment; every record is an evolution from the one before. For fans of Flaming Heart, we always seek to evolve the ‘sound’ and have introduced a deep fruitiness to the arrangement for the 2022 version.
The smoke machine is powered by a combination of malts from the Laphroaig, Caol Ila and Talisker distilleries, while our Highland Malt Blend has spent more than five years in richly toasted virgin French oak custom casks to deliver round, booming spicy richness.
FLAVOUR PROFILE: A high-energy nose with smouldering peat embers, cigar wrapper and candied ginger. The palate is oily, smoky, rich and savoury.
SERVING RECOMMENDATIONS: A whisky for friends, great music, and not taking life too seriously.
TECHNICAL DETAILS: Bottled at 48.9%. Natural colour. Not chill filtered. Blended Malt Scotch Whisky. A limited edition of 9,606 bottles. August 2022.
LEAD WHISKYMAKER: James Saxon.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Smoke and peat with wisps of salty sea air, bit of tar, smoked pork lightly brushed with barbecue sauce, grilled peaches, pears, raisins, mineral notes and leather.
Palate:  Thick and creamy mouthfeel, sweet with smoky caramel, peat, berries, apples, raisins, cherries, and nutmeg.
Finish:  Long and syrupy with apricot jam and peat smoke.
Comments:  I’ve been a fan of Flaming Heart ever since I first tried one (which was the 2012 edition). The 2015 edition I was such a fan of, I stocked up and over a couple of years bought 6 or 7 bottles (hard to tell as some were drank over that period of time!) The SRP back then was around $130 so this wasn’t an inexpensive endeavor – but worth it to me. Fast forward to 2024 when I sat down with a sample of the 2022 Flaming Heart (which I didn’t buy as the SRP was closer to $200 when I saw it on the shelf). Knowing how much I have loved past releases, I wanted to do a blind side-by-side tasting with the 2015. I have to admit – kinda wishing I had picked up a bottle now! This is a marvelous whisky! By comparison, I found this to be thicker on the nose, with more darker fruit notes, and with a bit of water got notes of tropical fruits. The 2015 was a bit lighter in color, with less red and gold – and with a bit of water tended towards more citrusy notes. Also found the nose on the 2015 brighter but a bit thinner. I found the 2015 pretty similar to the 2012 when I did a similar blind side-by-side back in the day. Just another magnificent offering from the folks at Compass Box, who I’ve been fans of for many years while not loving everything they’ve put out.

Rating: Must Try/Must Buy

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