Remus Repeal Reserve Bourbon IX (2025)

ReviewsAmerican WhiskeyBourbonMGPRoss and SquibbRemus Repeal Series

Aug 27

*Remus Repeal Reserve Bourbon IX (2025) Bottle. Photo courtesy of Remus Bourbon.*

Remus Repeal Reserve is an under-the-radar release during Fall release season. Easier to find, cheap (relatively) at $99.99, and consistently above average with some releases getting to excellence.

While I didn’t quite have the “oh sh*t” moment my friend Jacob at ComingWhiskey had when trying this year’s edition, it was damn good. MGP/Ross & Squibb bourbon is usually kind of middle-of-the-road for me, high floor but low ceiling with a few exceptions, usually single barrels (the Smoke Wagon 13YO Bourbon picked by the New Jersey Bourbon & Yacht Club, my home club, is legendary, as is a pick or two from Single Cask Nation).

The Remus Repeal Reserve series and its Gatsby Reserve cousin break that trend, with a higher floor and ceiling. This particular release, the 9th in the series, has four components:

23% 2015 (10 YO) 60/36/4 Bourbon
26% 2014 (11 YO) 60/36/4 Bourbon
44% 2015 (10 YO) 75/21/4 Bourbon
7% 2006 (18 YO) 75/21/4 Bourbon

With all 10+-year-old bourbons and a fairly equal balance between the high rye and low rye bourbon recipes, this thing is at first a breakfast bourbon par excellence, then transitions into a fruity, leathery, fruit leathery flavor powerhouse. The 18-year-old component doesn’t play a huge part until the late palate and finish, where a flash of astringency and body carry the flavors through to the finish.

At 104 proof, this is dangerously drinkable. Honestly, it was my second taste of the night and the one before it was lower proof on paper, and this had almost zero proof burn at any point. If anything, there’s a latent honey flavor that’s quite subtle but coats the palate, like coating a prickly wall to become smooth (I don’t do construction so don’t yell at me). Raspberry iced tea and blooming clove spice make this a pour you’ll want to pick up.

Why didn’t this receive an 8+? As great as this was, I didn’t feel something experiential or unquestionably special. Well done, balanced, and for all the reasons above an under-the-radar Fall pull. I’m still going to get a bottle for myself. Not everything on your shelf needs to be 8+…a 7.9 is a pretty damn good pour that you’ll want to share with people who enjoy good bourbon.

This sample was provided by Ross & Squibb Distillery at no cost. All opinions are my own.

Remus Repeal Reserve Bourbon IX (2025): Specs

Classification: Blend of Indiana Straight Bourbon Whiskies

Producer: Ross & Squibb Distillery (MGP)

Mashbill: 23% 2015 (10 YO) 60/36/4 Bourbon, 26% 2014 (11 YO) 60/36/4 Bourbon, 44% 2015 (10 YO) 75/21/4 Bourbon, 7% 2006 (18 YO) 75/21/4 Bourbon

Proof: 104º (52% ABV)

Age: 10-18 Years Old

Location: Indiana

Remus Repeal Reserve Bourbon IX (2025) Price: $99.99

Official Website

Remus Repeal Reserve Bourbon IX (2025): Tasting Notes

Eye: Breakfast syrup. Medium rims, medium legs and tiny droplets.

Nose: Cinnamon dusted French toast, sweet and custardy, not eggy. Dark syrup, threads of light florals. No proof or oak on the nose. Candied cherries, fruity scent of walking into a leather shop. Snickerdoodles.

Palate: Cinnamon studded cherries, real maraschinos in liqueur. The new leather smell is there, just as fruity, leaning into raspberry fruit leather and black iced tea. Mild astringency and a hint of lemon. Mouthfeel is medium bodied, warm syrup consistency, very slight prickle on the front half of my tongue. Coating. Settles front half with assorted spices, clove being strongest.

Finish: Biting into a whole clove. Hits the back palate first with a flash of spice that almost numbs but pulls back in time. Mouthwatering, more astringent than the palate. Cigar wrappers, dried raspberries, and cascara fruit. Medium length.

Overall: This is really, really good, just shy of exceptional. The texture is fantastic for 104, especially since there’s so little proof prickle that the mild astringency has to carry the flavor forward. The honeyed raspberry black iced tea undertone carries wonderful tannic body for fruit leather and new hide leather. Tricks you into thinking it’s a breakfast bourbon before becoming more complex.