Rebel 10 Year Single Barrel Bourbon Review

Rebel 10 Year Single Barrel Bourbon

The 2025 Rebel 10 Year Single Barrel

Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Aged 10 Years | 100 Proof (50% ABV)

Mash Bill: 68% Corn, 20% Wheat, 12% Malted Barley

Distilled in Bardstown, KY by John Rempe, Lux Row Distillers

Limited Edition: 2,600 Six-Packs (15,600 Bottles)

SRP: $99.99

Nose

The nose opens with a rich, inviting caramel note—deep, buttery, and unmistakably matured. It’s followed by a unique cherry cola aroma that adds a nostalgic, effervescent twist, reminiscent of soda shop classics. Beneath that brightness lies a soft vanilla bean warmth, rounded by steady notes of seasoned oak, bringing a sense of age and depth. Altogether, it’s a nose that walks the line between sweet indulgence and classic maturity.

Palate

The first sip reveals this bourbon’s true strength: rich, dessert-like complexity balanced with elegant spice. Caramel flan leads the charge—dense, creamy, and sweet, layered with vanilla custard and soft brown sugar. Quickly, the mid-palate evolves, introducing classic baking spices like cinnamon and nutmeg—warming but never overpowering. These spice notes feel integrated, not flashy, likely a result of the wheated mash bill’s softness and 10 years of barrel aging. Vanilla cream coats the palate throughout, offering a smooth and silky experience.

Finish

The finish is where the bourbon flexes its age and non-chill-filtered nature. It’s long, smooth, and viscous, leaving behind a slightly oily texture that allows flavors to cling and evolve. As the sweetness fades, soft spice and oak tannins come forward, with a lingering cinnamon-sugar warmth that echoes back to the flan and cherry cola on the nose. It’s a refined, slow fade—comforting, not abrupt.

Overall Impression

Rebel 10 Year Single Barrel is a standout in the modern wheated bourbon landscape—a testament to patience and barrel selection by John Rempe. The 100-proof bottling hits a sweet spot: bold enough to carry complexity, yet smooth and sippable without dilution. Each barrel offers its own fingerprint, but the profile aims consistently for dessert-driven richness, baking spice complexity, and a long, satisfying finish.

This limited edition release is a love letter to traditional wheated bourbon fans, especially those who lean toward Maker’s Mark Cask Strength or Weller 12, but want something with more oak presence and a touch of rebel attitude.

Old Dominick Reserve Bourbon 8 Year - Review

Old Dominick 8 Year Reserve Bourbon

Distilled, aged, and bottled by Old Dominick Distillery — Memphis, Tennessee

Mash Bill: 75% Corn, 13% Rye, 12% Malted Barley

Barrel Info: West Tennessee White Oak, Char #4

Non-Chill Filtered | Small Batch (Min. 6 barrels)

Age: 8 Years

ABV: 50% - 100 Proof

Old Dominick 8 Year Reserve

Nose

The aroma opens confidently with a wave of caramel corn, immediately conjuring the warm, buttery sweetness of a fall fairground. This is quickly followed by sweet cream and vanilla, which soften and round out the profile. As it sits in the glass, light toasted oak emerges, carrying hints of old lumber and charred sugar. It’s a rich but approachable bouquet—classic, southern, and distinctly inviting.

Palate

The first sip reinforces the nose but dials up the dessert-like character. That caramel corn note returns with layered sweetness, soon giving way to a frosted pastry impression—like biting into a flaky vanilla danish. The texture is full and creamy, thanks to the non-chill filtration and 8 years of slow maturation. Mid-palate, vanilla ice cream rises to the top, providing a cooling, velvety contrast to the oak backbone. The rye in the mash bill adds just a nudge of spice, but never overpowers the sweet-driven profile.

Finish

The finish is medium in length, with a dry and slightly spicy taper. Wood tannins begin to grip the tongue gently, bringing balance to the earlier sweetness. A distinct white pepper note emerges at the tail end, lingering just long enough to leave a warm impression without overwhelming the senses. It fades with a touch of charred oak and toasted grain, a nod to its high-char barrels and traditional craftsmanship.

Overall Impression

Old Dominick Reserve 8 Year is a confident and comforting Tennessee bourbon—one that leans into rich sweetness without becoming overly syrupy, and shows maturity in both flavor and structure. The use of West Tennessee white oak and deep char #4 barrels imparts excellent barrel influence, which harmonizes beautifully with the vanilla and pastry notes.

For fans of dessert-forward bourbons that still retain complexity and backbone, this is a highly enjoyable pour. It’s particularly suited to sipping neat, though it could also elevate a classic Old Fashioned with its creamy vanilla and subtle spice.

A big THANK YOU to the team at Old Dominick for sending this amazing Media Box for my unbiased review.

15 Stars First West Toasted Oak Finish Review

First West Toasted Oak by 15 Stars

15 Stars First West Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey — Finished in Toasted White Oak Barrels

Blend of 5, 6, and 7-Year Bourbons | 98 Proof | SRP: $69

Includes bourbon made from proprietary red, white, and blue corns and Finished with a blend of two different toast profiles.

Nose:

The moment the bottle is uncorked, a dessert-forward bouquet welcomes you with inviting notes of toasted marshmallows and dark chocolate, balanced beautifully by vanilla bean and a backbone of seasoned oak. The toasted white oak finishing adds a refined, warming edge that suggests s’mores by a campfire — comforting, familiar, yet elevated.

Palate:

This bourbon takes a journey from sweet to savory with each sip. It opens with a burst of hard caramel candy — crisp, sugary, and nostalgic — before melting into layers of vanilla custard and rich dark chocolate fudge. Mid-palate, the toasted barrel influence shows its hand with subtle smoky warmth and a creamy texture that makes the sip linger longer than expected.

Finish:

The finish is warm, lingering, and full-bodied, with a pleasing rye spice hug that settles in the chest — a comforting Kentucky signature. There’s a luxurious mouth-coating viscosity that ties everything together, leaving behind sweet oak and spice that beckons for another pour. Despite its complexity, it’s remarkably drinkable, approachable for newcomers but rewarding for seasoned enthusiasts.

Blue-Glass Bottle

First Look: A Bottle as Historic as the Bourbon Inside

15 Stars honors its namesake and Kentucky’s rich history not just in liquid, but in design. The blue-glass bottle is inspired by the earliest vessels used for whiskey in Kentucky — a nod to authenticity and craftsmanship. It feels regal in hand and grounded in tradition, yet unmistakably premium and modern in its execution.

The label artwork pays tribute to the explorers and visionaries of America’s frontier era, featuring imagery of Wilderness Road, the Cumberland Gap, and Daniel Boone — all instrumental in opening a pathway to what was once called the “First West.”

The bottle’s stopper top and coin-embossed base echo the design of historic U.S. coins, a fitting tribute to Kentucky’s place as the 15th state, and a tactile reminder of the bourbon’s connection to place and time.

The bottom of the bottle

Heritage in Every Drop

Crafted from a blend of Kentucky straight bourbons aged 5, 6, and 7 years, and uniquely, including bourbon made from red, white, and blue corns, this expression captures the pioneering spirit of America’s earliest whiskey makers. The toasted white oak finishing adds a modern flourish while respecting the roots of traditional bourbon-making.

“First West” isn’t just a bourbon — it’s a story in a bottle, celebrating Kentucky’s role in shaping the spirit of adventure, craftsmanship, and discovery.

Final Thoughts:

15 Stars “First West” is a bourbon for history lovers, oak finish fans, and anyone who appreciates a glass that’s as rich in story as it is in flavor. It drinks above its price point, stands out on the shelf, and makes a compelling case for why Kentucky continues to lead America’s bourbon legacy.

A warm-felt Thank You to Rick, Ricky and the entire team at 15 Stars for the opportunity to sample this new addition to the portfolio.