Rebel Yell American Whiskey is a blend of 2-year-old Rebel Yell and a 2-year-old MGP rye. This puts it in the same bourbon and rye blend category as High West’s Bourye and Son of Bourye and Wild Turkey’s Forgiven. The main difference being that, unlike the HW & WT, the Rebel Yell American Whiskey uses a wheated bourbon instead of the high rye bourbons used in the other two. Age would be the other big difference as this is quite a bit younger than the other 3.
It’s kind of fun to see a brand that’s seen so little innovation over the years start to do something interesting and new. While the core concept of a bourbon and rye blend obviously isn’t new, the use of a wheated bourbon in the blend is and brings something a little different to the table. It could definitely use a few more years in the barrel to give it some added depth and complexity, but it’s shockingly tasty for A) being Rebel Yell and B) being so young. Now if only they could address the namesake and make it more of a yell and less of an “indoor-voice”.
Rebel Yell American Whiskey Info
Region: Indiana & Kentucky, USA
Distiller: Heaven Hill Distillery & MGP
Bottler: Luxco
Mashbill: Rebel Yell + MGP Rye (95% rye & 5% malt)
Cask: New charred oak
Age: 2 years
ABV: 45%
Price: $35*
Rebel Yell American Whiskey Review
EYE
Butterscotch
NOSE
Caramel, rye spice, vanilla frosting and a bit of dark fruit move forward first followed by notes of grain, citrus peel and a surprising amount of wood.
PALATE
Rye spice moves across first towing notes of caramel, cherry dark fruit, leather, oily toasted nuts, some citrus peel and vanilla with a light bit of cocoa powder on the back end.
FINISH
Long and spicy with a good bit of sweetness, leather, wood and mint.
BALANCE, BODY & FEEL
Well balanced with sweet and spicy notes holding steady. A soft round body and a slick syrupy texture.
OVERALL
Rebel Yell American Whiskey = the sweetness of a wheater + the spice of a young rye and is exactly what Rebel Yell needs. It’s no secret that I’m not a huge fan of the regular Rebel Yell, but add some 2 yr MGP rye and boom… it tastes MUCH better. The rye spice covers up the flaws – giving it the body it needs. Without a doubt this is the best whiskey in their current line-up and if it clocked in around the 4-6 years mark I’m sure it would soar with the added depth. Though even with it as-is it’s a Rebell Yell I might actually keep in the house and that’s something I never thought I’d say about a bottle of anything labeled Rebel Yell… well done Luxco.
SCORE: 84/100
*Disclosure: This bottle of Rebel Yell American Whiskey was graciously sent to me by the company for the purposes of this review. The views, opinions, and tasting notes are 100% my own.
Rebel Yell American Whiskey Review - Score Breakdown
Value
Rebel Yell American Whiskey is fairly well priced for what it is.
Overall
- Nose - 84
- Palate - 84
- Finish - 84
- Balance, Body & Feel - 84
User Review
( votes)( reviews)
After your review I found it on sale for $9.99. I drank it on the rocks and it was good. Keep up your great BLOG!
That’s awesome. Thank you and cheers!
I tried it and wanted to like it but it still tastes too young for me. At $35 in my ABC store I think it is way over-priced. EW White label BIB is 15.95 and the Rebel Yell isn’t half as good. Like you Josh I wish it were aged a couple of more years. If it was it would have great possibilities. Thanks for the reviews!
Cheers Richard and totally agree. Which is exactly why the Rebel Yell 10 is awesome!
Hi Josh, I recently tried a Rebel Yell blend on the rocks and was pleasantly surprised how easy and sweet this was to drink. I couldn’t believe it is aged for only two years.
As a novice whiskey drinker I am glad I stumbled onto your site. I recently completed the “Kentucky Bourbon Trail”. Right now my go-to is Bulleit Rye.
Regards, Rick
Thank you and I totally agree, that bourbon / rye blend is shockingly good for only being 2 years. Cheers Rick!
Interesting , I’ve seen it and kinda shrugged thinking it to be a marketing thing . 35 bucks is a little steep for me and is more than my beloved Old Granddad 114 . I’d like to try it because of it’s uniqueness
Can’t disagree that $35 is a bit much for it, but it’s an interesting unique whiskey.
Thanks for doing a review of this, I’m definitely interested in trying it now. Normally think bourbon/rye mixes are a little gimmicky (since depending on final grain % you end up with a bourbon or a rye), but using a wheater for it makes it much more interesting. Depending on the proportions of bourbon & rye used, this may technically be a four-grain rye whiskey which I have never heard of.
Yeah I wish they would give out the proportions of the mixes, but in that Bourbon-rye realm it’s definitely unique. Cheers!
Thanks for that review. Not something I would have bothered trying without your positive comments. At the price, no harm in adding it to the shelf.
Happy to help :) I was completely shocked by it (actually drinking some right now). I wish it was a bit cheaper, but with the way prices are increasing it won’t be much longer till $35 is the new $20 :/
Cheers!