George Remus Bourbon Wrestling With Whiskey Pick
The first review of the first single barrel pick I ever did. I’m excited.
I’ve wondered for quite some time how I ended up in the Wrestling With Whiskey (WWW) group, led by Matt Rehwoldt (aka Drama King Matt or Aiden English). My best guess is that a friend from the Bourbon Pursuit Discord channel, to which I used to belong, invited me when we were still both there and the WWW group was formed. I’ll fully admit: I know zero about wrestling and it’s never held much interest for me. Plus, the group was largely based in Chicago and the midwest, and so I couldn’t take part in the local meetups, COVID or not.
I considered whether to leave, but ended up staying for the friendships and experiences. This pick was one of those (so was my win in an in-group BBCo blending challenge!).
This pick took place virtually on February 6, 2021. I had just recovered from my first bout with COVID, and debated whether to give up my spot. I hadn’t lost any taste or smell during the illness, but I was also far from my usual palate. When a bottled-in-bond bourbon tastes hot to me, that means I’ve taken a break and need to get back up to speed. Ultimately, I had two or three days to decide, and had enough time between recovering and the tasting to get my palate re-trained. I’m so glad I did.
George Remus Bourbon is named after the eponymous bootlegger - the King of the Bootleggers, if legend is to be believed. Produced by MGP in Lawrenceburg, IN and available in both their 21% and 36% rye bourbon recipes, the tasting was a four-parter that gave incredible insight into how these two different mashbills could behave. In the end, it was a unanimous decision - barrel #10, sample A, the first of two 36% rye recipes we tasted.
Due to COVID and MGP’s own schedule, the barrel was slightly older by the time it was bottled, and the proof had dropped ever so slightly from 112.2º to an even 112º. The additional 4-5 months tempered some of the headier chocolate notes while bringing out more vanillins, but otherwise left the bourbon the same as we had tasted it. I’ve added my initial tasting notes to the final ones - you can be the judge of how different the pours are.
There have been several picks since, and I participate when I can. I’ll admit, WWW is one of many groups I’m part of, and often doesn’t get the attention it deserves. Again, though, I stayed for the friendships that I likely wouldn’t have built if not for the pandemic forcing everything online. To Steph, Matt, Eric (now the co-host of This Is My Bourbon Podcast), Robert, and everyone else in the group, raise a glass - and I hope to cheers with you in person soon.
George Remus bourbon Wrestling with Whiskey Pick: Specs
Classification: Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Origin: MGP Distillery
Mashbill: 60% Corn, 36% Rye, 4% Malted Barley
Proof: 112 (56% ABV)
Age: NAS
Location: Indiana
George Remus Bourbon Wrestling With Whiskey Pick Price: $45
George Remus bourbon Wrestling with Whiskey Pick Review: Tasting Notes
Eye: Black iced tea.
Nose from Sample: Chocolatey and honey-forward. Dark chocolate and vanilla extract. Peppery spice.
Nose from Bottle: Fresh corn, sweet wintermint, and roasted corn. Drying caramel and vanilla beans. A bit of proof heat. White chocolate and creamy oak.
Palate from Sample: No oak, creamy or woody. This starts out with peppery spice and more chocolatey spices, like a Mexican hot chocolate. Mouthfeel is viscous and coating.
Palate from Bottle: Peppery spice and a proof that coats the tongue above its level. Vanilla extract and Necco wafers. Mouthfeel is prickly and hot, though orange and lemon zest break in on a creamy mouthfeel that turns thicker with air and chew.
Finish from Sample: Long and chocolatey.
Finish from Bottle: Vanilla-forward with brioche crusts, medium-length and no proof. Sits in the corners of my mouth.
Overall: Classic MGP, classic as it gets. High-rye peppery spice and vanilla-forward. Great on its own as a sipper and makes a nice Manhattan, too.
Final Rating: 6.6
10 | Insurpassable | Nothing Else Comes Close (Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Old Label Batch 4 or 2, Blanton’s Straight from the Barrel)
9 | Incredible | Extraordinary (GTS, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B518 and B520)
8 | Excellent | Exceptional (Stagg Jr. Batch 10, Highland Park Single Barrels)
7 | Great | Well above average (Blanton’s Original, Old Weller Antique, Booker’s)
6 | Very Good | Better than average (Four Roses Small Batch Select, Knob Creek 14+ YO Picks)
5 | Good | Good, solid, ordinary (Elijah Craig Small Batch, Buffalo Trace, Old Grand-Dad Bottled-in-Bond)
4 | Has promise
1-3 | Let’s have a conversation
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