Rebel 10 Year Single Barrel Bourbon Review

Anthony Riccardi
Jul 31
2 min read

Rebel 10 Year Single Barrel Bourbon

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.