You Might Want To Rethink Drinking Rebel Yell Whiskey. Here's Why
Marrying yourself up to a whiskey can be tricky business. From bourbon and scotch to rye and the Irish variety, there are a lot of alcohols in the whiskey family. One whiskey brand of the bourbon persuasion that has us talking is Rebel Yell Whiskey. Bourbon Buzz explains that in order for an alcohol to legally be called bourbon, it must meet several criteria. It must be comprised of 51 percent corn, have been aged for a minimum of two years in new charred oak barrels, bottled at 80 proof or higher, and it must be produced in the United States to receive the bourbon moniker. So, if a whiskey meets those requirements, what makes a bourbon great and where does Rebel Yell fall on this spectrum?
According to Complex, the quality of a bourbon is tied to its age. The longer it is aged the better, allowing the bourbon to lose its sharpness and gain the woody sweetness that is the hallmark of this alcohol. Per Breaking Bourbon, Rebel Yell uses an NAS or no age statement which simply means that it meets the legal requirement of two years, and we know nothing more about its age beyond that. As the Scotch Addict points out, NAS makes it easier for whiskey producers to create what they want to create. But, in our opinion, it also means that if you are a whiskey drinker, you may want to give some pause before you buy a bottle of Rebel Yell.
Rebel Yell's age is nebulous
The nebulous age of Rebel Yell is only part of the reason we think you may want to reconsider imbibing it. The proof really lies with its patrons' testaments, and per the Whiskey Wash, Rebel Yell should be filed away as the cheap whiskey of your youth and should remain a distant memory. The reviewer, who goes into great detail about the flavor and how Rebel Yell has tried to up their game with a new hip bottle, notes this whiskey has been around a long time since 1849 to be exact. But longevity doesn't always equate to quality of taste.
One Redditor shares in the dislike of this alcohol and wrote of Rebel Yell Whiskey: "Boy am I glad I did not pay for this. If this is anybody's go-to, I am sorry for offending you. But this is the worst whiskey I have had to date. It is so bland and has nothing going for it. Thin, watery, wet wood. Not for me. This is a disgusting whiskey and will be needed to consume as a mixer."
But with that said, Breaking Bourbon points out that not every bourbon needs to "stand out" and counters that Rebel Yell's affordability makes it a "good enough" whiskey to drink neat or mixed. Fair point. But regardless of your alcohol of choice, be it Rebel Yell or some other bourbon, just remember to drink responsibly.