whiskeyfortheages, Author at Whiskey for the Ages

George Remus Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Posted on 20-March-202205-May-2022 by whiskeyfortheages

Brian’s George Remus Straight Bourbon Whiskey Review:

reviewed 15-March-2022

GEORGE REMUS STRAIGHT BOURBON WHISKEY REVIEW:

George Remus Straight Bourbon (GR GR Bourbon) Whiskey is labeled for its namesake George Remus. Also known as the “King of the Bootleggers”, German-born Remus was a lawyer, bootlegger and criminal during the Prohibition era. In November 2016, MGP acquired rights to the George Remus brand from Queen City Whiskey Co. and is now selling several versions of George Remus Bourbon under the label. There are some in the media who have called for MPG to rebrand this product line due to Mr. Remus’ sordid past.

GR Bourbon Whiskey is a nice pour. I’ve often looked past the unassuming bottle, and I am sorry to have waited this long to give this bourbon a try. From the fruity sweet nose, to the caramelly flavors, oily mouthfeel and long finish, this is a fine whiskey at a fair price.

GEORGE REMUS STRAIGHT BOURBON VITAL STATS:

Category: Straight Bourbon Region: G. Remus Distilling Co., Atchison, KS
Distillery: DSP-IN-15016 Lawrenceburg, IN (MGPI)
Mash Bill: unpublished but believed to be a blend of one or more MGP high-rye mash bills.
Barrel Char: unpublished
Barrel entry proof: unpublished
Age: over 4 years (nas)
Filtration: Non-Chilled Filtered
ABV: 47% (94 Proof)
NABCA CSC #: 18412
Price: $39.95 (purchased on sale @$36.95 in March 2022 in Idaho)
No batch or bottle number identifiers

_{George Remus Straight Bourbon Whiskey is a high-rye style bourbon aged over five years. Featuring multiple mash bills to create complexity and a layering effect on the palate.}
^{_{— Idaho State Liquor Division}}

Learn more at George Remus Straight Bourbon Whiskey.

ENJOYMENT METHOD:

Alternate pours, equaling about four ounces, were added into two Glencairns. Hannah and I enjoyed the bourbon neat for this review.

Check out her review for this bourbon here!

GEORGE REMUS STRAIGHT BOURBON NOSE:

The nose of GR Bourbon is quite complex for a low/mid-priced whiskey. The first scents are of dark cherry then comes raspberry fruit leather and plump gourmet raisins. Further nosing brings baking notes of allspice, cinnamon and nutmeg along with chocolate chips and vanilla. There are more sweets here too as brown sugar melts into buttery Kraft caramels. As I round our Whiskey Traits and Flavor Wheel I smell faint fresh cut oak and some nice barrel char in the mix as well.

GEORGE REMUS STRAIGHT BOURBON PALATE:

GR Bourbon is rich and full with many of the flavors sensed on the nose. I taste sweet cherries but more … chocolate covered cherry nougat and spices of cinnamon, nutmeg and the flavor of rye in each swallow. But moreover, this bourbon is sweet with notes of vanilla and buttery caramel, in aged oak with smoky sweet barrel char.

Balance, Body, Feel and Look:
GR Bourbon is solid, yet each sip is gentle and easy to hold. The liquid is viscous and oily, giving my mouth a simple, easy tickle. As I set the glass down after each sip, a thick curtain hangs, then gives way to long clinging legs and droplets which drain back to the tawny colored pool.

GEORGE REMUS STRAIGHT BOURBON FINISH:

GR Bourbon has a long, warm and lingering floral finish. Like found in the aroma and flavor, I sense memories of sweet cherries, gourmet raisins, cinnamon and just a hint of chocolate. There is light vanilla, buttery caramel, sweet oak and barrel char too along with a touch of faint new leather. And when the final drops are gone, the empty Glencairn has a bit of alcohol and smells of dry sawdust and soft caramel.

MY RATING: 91/100

Will I buy this whiskey again? YES
What a find! George Remus Bourbon has a home in my bunker and there’s room for a backup too.
_{Click to read Brian’s scoring process.}

Click 91/100 to access other whiskies with this score.

WHISKEY TRAITS, FLAVOR NOTES AND PROFILE GRAPH:

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George Remus Straight Bourbon Review

Posted on 20-March-202209-May-2022 by whiskeyfortheages

Hannah’s George Remus Straight Bourbon Review

Original review written March 15, 2022

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

Light yet complex, viscous yet rich. This was well worth the purchase, and I will be looking to keep this one in the bunker full-time. 91/100

George Remus Straight Bourbon Whiskey is labeled for its namesake George Remus. Also known as the “King of the Bootleggers”, German-born Remus was a lawyer, bootlegger and criminal during the Prohibition era. In November 2016, MGP acquired rights to the George Remus brand from Queen City Whiskey Co. and is now selling several versions of George Remus Bourbon under the label. There are some in the media who have called for MPG to rebrand this product line due to Mr. Remus’ sordid past.

VITALS:

– Made In: Lawrenceburg, Indiana, USA
– Distillery: Remus Distilling Co.; MGPI
– Classification: Straight Indiana Bourbon
– Age: nas
– Mash Bill: unpublished, but believed to be a high-rye blend of several mash bills
– Casks: unpublished char
– Barrel Entry Proof: unpublished
– ABV: 47% (94 proof)
– Price: $39.95 USD in Idaho

Visit georgeremus.com/the-bourbons for more information

ENJOYMENT METHOD:

I enjoyed the spirit neat from a Glencairn glass with father and fellow Whiskey for the Ages reviewer, Brian.

Check out his review for this bourbon here!

SETTING:

I imagine sipping this one at the top of a Ferris Wheel at night, with a whole carnival or a town lit up in bright lights and playful noises. The air is calm at the top, if not mixed with a bit of fried food aroma. George Remus Straight is warm, sharp, and exciting enough to keep you entertained, even on a ride as simple as the faithful Wheel.

Photo by William Krause on Unsplash

NOSE:

This has a distinct bourbon nose – corn forward, kick of spice at the back of the inhale, and immediately rich. There’re caramel squares here as well, practically ready to get stuck in between your teeth. But it is not sickeningly sweet, as there is barrel char, fresh herbs, wheat grain and nutmeg to balance it out. Natural sweetness also exists in fruit, like apricots, candied citrus (even marmalade?), and fruit leather. There is little to no alcohol burn on this nose either, leaving just a nose full of pleasant aromas. Overall, this quite a complex nose, and it certainly smells inviting.

PALATE:

– Mouth Feel: Viscous, oily, yum.
– Balance: So solid. There’s a strong base to this bourbon with enough complexity and different flavors to play off of it, that it’s just enjoyable, full stop.
– Visual: Tawny in color, this falls in curtains with thick legs, leaving behind a lingering, uneven crown.

– Taste: I can definitely let this sit on the palate for some time without feeling any pressure at all to get rid of the sip. The alcohol is incredibly mild and offers only the slightest of tickles as it sits. Caramel apples are the first thing to come to mind for flavors, particularly a granny smith apple, as there is a hint of tartness to mix with the sweet caramel. I can even find cherry, tickled by a hint of allspice to lift it and add complexity. At the very back of the palate is a small amount of nutty bitterness, but it actually works to add what I can only call “closure” to the sip.

Wood can be found in abundance with each of these sips also, in a soaked, wood-chip quality, as if I could chew this bourbon. It adds a foundation to the spirit – one that would be sorely missed if it wasn’t here. (And I don’t even require my bourbons to be particularly woody.) This is easy sipping, simply put. The alcohol and wood create the mouth feel, and they make the bourbon even rich.

A Kentucky chew coaxes out both chocolate and grain – all to make the mouth water and want the next sip.

FINISH:

– Lasting Power: Medium. There isn’t much for aftertaste, but the warmth does settle in the throat and lingers for some time.
– Between Sips: I find the wheat grain to be most prominent between sips, with apple core bitterness and buttery walnuts. It’s a decent enough pause, but certainly the palate is superior.

– No More: This continues to only grow in pleasantness the longer I sip this. I’m enjoying this thoroughly, and the sweetness and richness only develops more with each taste.

The empty Glencairn is a rich, spicy sawdust and absolutely delicious. A great finish to a really solid bourbon.

WORTH THE PRICE?

Exceptionally so. It has a complexity to it, matched with lighter-than-normal flavors that make it both unique, and attractive. It’s easy sipping, and I could see it becoming part of the daily sipper group quite quickly. Will look to replace this bottle once it’s gone. This skyrockets without hesitation to one of the better value bourbons I think you can find (at least in Idaho).

GEORGE REMUS STRAIGHT BOURBON REVIEW RATING: 91/100

Click to see Hannah’s rating process

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Whiskey Reviews

Basil Hayden Toast Bourbon

Posted on 13-March-202227-June-2022 by whiskeyfortheages

Brian’s Basil Hayden Toast Review:

reviewed 08-March-2022

BASIL HAYDEN TOAST BOURBON REVIEW:

Released in late 2021, Basil Hayden Toast Bourbon (BH Toast) is the latest addition to the Basil Hayden line-up. Its mash bill is made with brown rice instead of and I am intrigued. Still, at just 80 proof (like all Basil Hayden offerings), this sat on our shelves for about three and a half months before we decided to put it in the review rotation. While this is a simple whiskey, there are some nice nuances and I think it has a place in the bunker … Think gateway bourbon. It definitely will not wow the seasoned drinker and it should NEVER be bought above MSRP, but there are distinct aromas and flavors most novices should be able to detect.

BASIL HAYDEN TOAST VITAL STATS:

Category: Bourbon, Finished Bourbon
Region: Clermont, KY
Distillery: DSP-KY-230 James B. Beam Distilling Co.
Mash Bill: 63% Corn, 27% Brown Rice, 10% Malted Barley (brown rice replaces the typical rye to create a softer, less spicy taste)
Barrel Char: #4
Finishing Barrels: Slowly toasted. Toasted barrels add spice and vanilla notes.
Barrel entry proof: unpublished
Age: nas, an undisclosed portion of the bourbon receives approximately two months of additional aging in the toasted barrels then is reintroduced to the untoasted distillate.
ABV: 40% (80 Proof)
NABCA CSC #: 16685
Price: $49.95 (Idaho, February 2022)
No batch or bottle number identifiers

_{“The latest permanent release from Basil Hayden® consists of an entirely new brown rice mashbill and a secondary finish in toasted barrels. The result is a bourbon with less spice, and deepened notes of sweet caramel with a bright, light mouthfeel.”}
^{— Basil Hayden website}

Learn more at Basil Hayden® Toast Bourbon.

ENJOYMENT METHOD FOR THE REVIEW:

Alternate pours, equaling about four ounces, were added into two Glencairns. My daughter and I enjoyed the bourbon neat for this review.

Check out her review for this bourbon here!

BASIL HAYDEN TOAST NOSE:

The nose of BH Toast is light and while simple, there are aromas I rarely sense in a bourbon … a bit of faint finger nail polish for one, but not so strong it becomes off-putting. I also scent dried field corn, plum, banana and some undefined dried fruit. There is a trace amount of allspice but overall this bourbon smells sweet. I get rich vanilla, caramelized sugar, toasted marshmallows and faint notes of light brown sugar sprinkled over Rice Krispies cereal and cashews. These aromas dance with and around plenty of toasted oak.

BASIL HAYDEN TOAST PALATE:

The first sip of BH Toast presents with an unexpected sour unripe apple mixed with a little light citrus. After I recalibrate to this taste, I get plums and dried figs dusted with powdered ginger and a pinch of black pepper. But as mentioned above, sweetness rules here. Rich vanilla, caramelized sugar and maple syrup enhance faint almond notes. There is also some wood if I take my time. I taste light toasted oak, barrel spice and an earthy note from the barrels in the form of BBQ Applewood smoke. While this bourbon tastes fine, the flavors are quite gentle.

Balance, Body, Feel and Look:
As I nose BH Toast, I see long clinging legs and hanging droplets in the glass. These leave a nice crown above a light russet colored pool. Imagine my surprise when my first sip though soft, smooth and warm left a watery mouthfeel. Of course it is easy to hold but I feel a bit cheated by the display

BASIL HAYDEN TOAST FINISH:

Basil Hayden Toast Bourbon has a short finish with mild warmth owing to the low ABV. As on the nose and palate, dried corn and light citrus pass through as does a hint of faint banana. There is a bit of pepper here too, as well as the rich vanilla, buttery sweet caramel and light toasted oak with the sweet Applewood smoke sensed on the nose and palate. And when the last dram is gone, a balanced perfume of all the aromas and flavors waft from the Glencairn.

MY RATING: 86/100

Will I buy this whiskey again? MAYBE
I would replace an empty bottle only if I were expecting novice guests and I was looking to introduce them to something mild and sweet.
_{Click to read Brian’s scoring process.}

Click 86/100 to review other whiskeys with awarded this score.
To access other whiskies from this brand, click Basil Hayden.

WHISKEY TRAITS, FLAVOR NOTES AND PROFILE GRAPH:

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