George Remus Bourbon Archives – Whiskey for the Ages

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Mash Bill: unpublished but believed to be a blend of one or more MGP high-rye mash bills.
Barrel Char: unpublished
Barrel entry proof: unpublished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.}

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WHISKEY TRAITS, FLAVOR NOTES AND PROFILE GRAPH:

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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

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