Remus Gatsby Reserve - 15 Year Old
$199
Remus Gatsby Reserve – 15 Year Old
Proof: 97.8
Age: 15 Year
Distillery: Ross and Squibb Distillery (MGP)
Type: Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Mash: Unknown
Website: George Remus
*Disclaimer: A score of 5 is the midpoint for my reviews. Above 5 I like it. Below 5 I didn’t for some reason. Most of my reviews are between 4-7. It takes something really really special to go above 7 or below 4. See the methodologies for rating at the end of the article
Nose: Carmel, Old Leather, Custard, Cherries, Rickhouse Mustiness, and a bit of Nuttiness With Cinnamon Spice.
Taste/Palate: Mature notes of Damp Oak, Leather, and Sweet Tobacco lead the charge. This is slightly unusual as normally these characteristics show up late in the palate/finish. The palate follows up with Sweet notes of Honey, Caramel, & Molasses combined with Cocktail Cherries.
Finish: The finish crescendos with a great combination of the aforementioned mature and sweet characteristics, but then adds a little Cinnamon spice with Earthy Floral notes and then a little Honey Sweet on the very end of the finish.
Verdict: This one has some meat to it. You have to chew on it for a while. There is A LOT going on, but with that it all comes together and is well balanced. It’s low proof for a “Cask Strength” but this sipper punches well beyond it’s proof weight class. It’s hard to bite the bullet and fork over 2 bills, but this one is well worth it at MSRP. For a ranking Remus Repeal V earns higher marks due to value, but I’d take this Palate and Finish over the 5. More opinion in the story section.
MSRP: $199 Price Ceiling: $299 (The most I’d pay for this bottle)
The Story: I thoroughly enjoyed the Remus Repeal V that I reviewed last year. In fact I believe it was in the top 3 favorites of 2021. I haven’t had the pleasure of trying the Repeal VI, but I did get my hands on this puppy. I was a little concerned given the high price tag and I’ve read in a few communities that it’s “not worth it”. Some even said that it’s bad for a standard priced whiskey. I respectfully disagree. This bottle offers maturity, complexity, a different view from sip to sip, great nose, palate, finish, and overall it’s very well balanced. I do wish that it was slightly higher proof – 105ish, but as I mentioned before this punches above it’s weight class. I’m going to be honest. I didn’t want to like this bottle. It’s MGP. Everyone and their mother goes goofy over MGP juice. Now we have 15+ year aged MGP that’s said to be the best of the best. I do believe that it delivered. To those that say the price tag isn’t worth it. I see sourced MGP bottles with a 5 year age statement selling for $80-100. I won’t argue that this is the best value bourbon out there, but I will argue that this one delivers. Price aside, this is one of the top pours I’ve had in 2022.
The Distillery’s Story: “How about a sip of something legendary, old sport? Remus Bourbon is proud to introduce the one and only Remus Gatsby Reserve.
Crafted with the finest 15-year-old reserves, this ultra-limited, cask strength straight bourbon celebrates F. Scott Fitzgerald’s iconic novel “The Great Gatsby”, from its events in 1922 to its publication in 1925.
Legend has it, Fitzgerald’s titular character ‘Jay Gatsby’ was inspired by Remus. Some say Fitzgerald and Remus’ fortuitous 1918 meeting began the ‘drums of destiny’. Others believe Fitzgerald gathered plenty of influence from Remus’ many newspaper exposés.
In any case, one thing is for sure – it’s a legendary story that calls for an equally legendary sip. Cheers!”
Methodologies for Rating:
1. Dump it down the drain or regift it to someone you don’t care for.
2. This doesn’t even belong in a mixed drink. Use in case of an emergency.
3. It’s really not for me, but I heard some people like it.
4. Its only good when I’ve had too many and it’s decent in a mixer.
5. Average. Not bad, but not special.
6. Above average. Good to bring to an event and you wouldn’t expect any guff from it.
7. Buy two if you see it to make sure you have one on reserve.
8. Very Very good. Constantly a GREAT POUR.
9. Superb. If I were to drink this and only this from now on I’d be a happy person.
10. Perfection is impossible. But this really comes as close as you can possibly get.
Reviewer: David S
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