Rebel Bourbon debuts wine-finished expression

Kentucky’s Lux Row Distillers has unveiled a limited edition expression of its Rebel Bourbon, finished in Cabernet Sauvignon barrels.

Exclusively available for sale outside of the US, the bottling is said to take on a ‘unique’ profile, with notes of dried dark fruit, oak, leather, hints of blackberries and raspberries, red grapes, and a light spice.

John Rempe, master distiller and blender at Lux Row Distillers, noted that the rich and fruit-heavy finish ”works really well alongside the famous toasted wheat, caramel, and vanilla flavours the Bourbon is known for.”

Rempe said that the brand’s ‘taste for testing the waters’ with new approaches to Bourbon has been demonstrated in this new release: “Experimenting with different barrel finishes embraces the rebellious spirit of the brand and is a fantastic way to thank Rebel fans around the globe.”

“We’ve got more dedicated space and barrels put aside in our rickhouses in Bardstown and look forward to continuing the international-only series in 2024 with another one-time-only finish.”

Rebel 100 Bourbon Cabernet Sauvignon Barrel Finish continues on from other secondary finishes of Rebel Bourbon that were released between 2019-2021; French oak barrels, Cognac casks, and tawny Port barrels.

Only 6,000 bottles of the Cabernet Sauvignon-finished Bourbon have been produced, and are available to consumers in the UK, Australia and Germany.

Greg Mefford, international sales director at Luxco, owner of Lux Row Distillers, added: “We often release distillery-only variants of Luxco brands and appreciate these aren’t always readily available for fans outside the US.

“International-only releases like the Rebel 100 Bourbon Cabernet Sauvignon Barrel Finish are a great way to reward the loyalty of our growing global fan base.”

The Bourbon is offered at RRP £44 (US$54.50) and is bottled at 50% ABV. 

It will make its first showing at the upcoming Bar Convent Berlin in October, where visitors can sample it at the Luxco stand.