What can I say about George Remus that hasn’t already been mentioned by the Hamilton County Prosecutor?
To paraphrase our President: George Remus was a foul dude. After getting his begin as a lawyer defending a rotating solid of ne’er-do-wells, Remus apparently determined that crime does, the truth is, pay. At the least, his bootlegging clientele appeared to don’t have any problem paying his authorized charges, which earned Remus greater than $7 million per yr in 2022 {dollars}.
Throughout Prohibition, Remus began shopping for distilleries licensed to provide medicinal whiskey, which he then organized to have “hijacked” by his associates. This “stolen” whiskey was subsequently resold to the parents who couldn’t get a physician to write down them a script for medicinal whiskey, however nonetheless needed a style of the good things.
The lengthy arm of the legislation caught Remus in 1925, when he was sentenced to 2 years within the Federal pen for violations of the Volstead Act. He confided to a cellmate (really an undercover Prohibition officer) that his substantial fortune was, the truth is, underneath the management of his spouse. That officer ran off with the spouse and the cash, infuriating Remus. After a carriage chase, Remus apprehended and murdered her in broad daylight, in entrance of their younger daughter.
Yeesh. Simply summarizing that man’s story makes me need a stiff drink. Luckily, I’ve one at hand and – wouldn’t you already know it! – it’s named after George Remus himself.
Why, you may ask, would anybody title their model after such an odious character? A cursory examination of the person past his “King of the Bootleggers” moniker reveals a character extra worthy of repudiation than reverence. But, MGP selected George Remus because the figurehead for the bourbon they promote themselves, dwarfed by the extraordinary portions of whiskey that others “supply” from them.
I’ve written earlier than about using Prohibition (and associated themes) as a way to inject some narrative coloration into whiskey in any other case wanting for a backstory. I’ve to suspect that it was this similar need to borrow the edgy status of Remus – in his capability as bootlegger, slightly than homicidal husband – that motivated MGP to “supply” his likeness for his or her bourbon model.
Bourbon fanatics aren’t any strangers to repurposed legacies, whether or not or not they’ve any connection to the distilleries or manufacturers with which they’re related. Evan Williams, Elijah Craig, George Washington, and Thomas Jefferson spring instantly to thoughts, and I’m sure there’s an extended record of names that at the moment are getting used to hawk booze. We’re accustomed to the observe, which now largely elicits rolled eyes, a cynical shaking of the top, or an apathetic shrug.
Apathy is maybe the very best descriptor for bourbon fan sentiment in regards to the Remus vary of bourbons, finest I can gauge. Neither beloved nor despised, they appear to be largely ignored by all however probably the most assiduous completists.
Is that this maybe accountable on the ubiquity of sourced MGP whiskey? I’ve written earlier than about how “Distilled in Indiana” has turn out to be a kind of “Go On to Jail” (sorry) card for these of us who purchase bottles attentively. A paradox emerges: savvy customers move on these bottles on the grounds that we are able to purchase whiskey cheaper from MGP, however the quantity of whiskey from MGP on the shelf prevents us from growing the curiosity to make the leap on a bottle.
I’m responsible (sorry, once more) of this myself. Regardless of often listening to delicate positivity about a few of these whiskeys (as when Frank reviewed Collection V of this similar Remus Repeal Reserve), I’ve not but felt compelled to purchase a bottle for myself. Luckily, Ryan has continued his streak of constant generosity and gifted me a pattern of Remus Repeal Reserve Collection II, which would be the topic of this evaluation.
Say what you need about MGP, however I’ve discovered them remarkably clear in a approach that contrasts notably with a whole lot of the parents reselling their whiskey. For instance: the press launch saying the arrival of this bourbon is surprisingly detail-laden. Verbatim:
“Remus Repeal Reserve Collection II is a restricted launch that showcases a medley of two mash payments from 2007/2008. It’s comprised of 15%, 2007 Bourbon (21% Rye); 50%, 2008 Bourbon (21% Rye); 10%, 2007 Bourbon (36% Rye); and 25%, 2008 Bourbon (36% Rye).”
How about that! Mash payments, ages (calculated roughly by subtracting from 2018, the yr this batch was launched), and proportions all specified by clear numerical kind (MGP’s personal website for this launch preserves this similar data). So, we’ve obtained ourselves a mix of two 10 yr previous bourbons from two mash payments, and two 11 yr previous bourbons from those self same mash payments, bottled on the respectable energy of 100 proof (50% ABV). SRP for this was $85 on the time, in contrast with $90 for the newest launch.
Remus Repeal Reserve Collection II – Assessment
Colour: Medium-dark brownish amber.
On the nostril: Brown sugar is married to nearly tequila-like scents of fecund and spicy succulent desert crops. There’s the signature MGP dill right here, however it’s buried beneath a targeted, creamy wave of vanilla oak. There’s the powdery sweetness of confectioners’ sugar as a topnote that rapidly metamorphoses into cherry flavored frosting. Natural notes of tarragon play in opposition to a chalky mineral notice. There’s a fantastic range of aromas right here; the nostril, a minimum of, doesn’t appear similar to any bourbon I recollect from MGP, nor from another distillery.
Within the mouth: That chalky sweetness is as soon as once more evident upfront, accented by a dry and faint wispy taste of cherry syrup. This takes on a medicinal solid of eucalyptus because the bourbon strikes towards the middle of the mouth. There, your entire presentation leans out and turns into fairly dry, with the mineralic notes. The dill sings out piquantly for an immediate, however quites down rapidly. The natural facets make a reappearance simply earlier than the end, which once more pivots towards the extra austere and dry flavors. There’s a delicate woodiness to this on the again fo the mouth, however in very polished kind, with none of the grainy, tannic astringency I normally affiliate with bourbon this lean. Surprisingly, there’s a lingering sweetness of brown sugar easy syrup and cherries jubilee that is still as a mild presence within the mouth.
Conclusions:
It is a compelling examine in contrasts. On the one hand, the general presentation could be very lean, taut, and lithe. The sharpness and dryness of the flavors turns into nearly extreme at factors. Nonetheless, there’s additionally some splendidly cheerful and charmingly candy fruit notes that seem at exactly the proper moments to tug this again from the brink. I like that this defies simple categorization. It has sufficient novel parts to curiosity a bourbon veteran, in addition to sufficient allure to disarm even a hardened cynic like myself.
That is assuredly not nice bourbon, nonetheless it’s good bourbon. In mild of that, and contemplating the worth, I’m scoring this a notch above common.
Rating: 6/10
This verdict (sorry, sorry, sorry) is a stunning one, in a great way. Possibly I shouldn’t rely a lot on status, both Remus’ or MGP’s? We’ll nearly definitely be seeing extra George Remus-branded bourbon as MGP makes use of the not too long ago acquired distribution community of Luxco, as is their said intention. Unlucky namesake apart, this whiskey stands out in a lineup (final one, I swear) of repeat offenders (gotcha) asking the identical value for much less distinguished MGP bourbon. Assuming future releases are nearly as good as this one, I’ll be extra inclined to deal with bottles as harmless till confirmed responsible (am I actually sorry, although?).
Lead picture courtesy of George Remus/MGP.
