Remus Repeal Reserve Series II (2018 Medley)

Vanilla and cherry notes

Scored this for a significantly discounted price at Costco. Medium strength nose of smoky barrel char, cherry, vanilla, Coca Cola, watermelon, and a faint hint of grass. No ethanol to speak of. Complex and appealing. Palate is very “old school”; lots of vanilla, caramel, cherry, and orange peel, developing into a finish of barrel spices, oak, and char. I was searching for how to describe the flavor when it hit me; tastes just like a well made Old Fashioned. Some toffee and mint on the back end when the spices fade. Shorter finish than what I was expecting. Suitably rich. Flavors transition smoothly and as a whole it’s really well balanced. Mouthfeel could best be described as “velvety” and is the high point, lending to an easy drinking experience. Drinks slightly under its 100 proof. I wish I could tell you there’s something truly groundbreaking going on but I can’t. This doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but if aliens landed tomorrow and said “what is this Bourbon you speak of?” this might be one you’d reach for as it’s a great high quality example of what traditional bourbon is supposed to be. At a $68 discount price I don’t regret the purchase. At $90 like I have seen around town? I’m afraid it’s just not unique or special enough to justify that kind of price point.

15 min in a Norlan. Love this nose right from the start. Dark caramel, brown sugar, vanilla, and nutmeg. Faint leathery notes on the end too. Spice, pepper, and orange lead off, then the sweeter notes come in. Kind of like a caramel flan and candied orange peel. Finish is a bit short, but as sweet as it seemed to finish, it left my mouth pretty dry. Very nice