George Remus Babe Ruth Reserve Bourbon 750ML

George Remus Babe Ruth Reserve Bourbon 750ML is a limited-edition, 111-proof (55.5% ABV) blend of three high-rye bourbons from Ross & Squibb Distillery in Lawrenceburg, Indiana. A Gold Medal winner at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, this release stands apart for its use of three exceptionally rare MGP mashbills — including a 49% rye bourbon recipe that pushes the legal boundary between bourbon and rye whiskey.

Quick Facts: ABV: 55.5% (111 Proof)  |  Origin: Lawrenceburg, Indiana, USA  |  Aged 6-7 Years  |  Distillery: Ross & Squibb Distillery (MGP)

Production & Heritage

Ross & Squibb Distillery — the historic MGP facility in Lawrenceburg, Indiana — has produced bourbon and rye whiskey since 1847. The Babe Ruth Reserve is built from a blend of three distinct high-rye bourbon mashbills containing 36%, 44%, and 49% rye respectively, all aged between six and seven years. The three-mashbill structure pays tribute to Babe Ruth's iconic jersey number, and the total production run of 10,624 bottles mirrors his career plate appearances — making this a genuinely limited release. The 49% rye mashbill in particular is extraordinarily uncommon, sitting just one percentage point below the legal threshold for classification as a rye whiskey.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Brown sugar and fig greet the nose first, followed by layers of cherry pie, horchata, and chai spices. A warm, bakery-like sweetness underpins the high-rye grain character throughout.

Taste: The entry is soft with brown sugar and a cooling hint of mint, quickly developing into candied pecans and chocolate orange at mid-palate. The peak delivers ginger, fennel, and mint chocolate chip ice cream — an unusual but cohesive progression driven by the triple-mashbill blend and barrel-proof intensity.

Finish: Long and warming, with persistent rye spice and cinnamon that build steadily. The high proof carries the finish without excessive heat, leaving a dry, spice-forward close.

How to Drink Babe Ruth Reserve

At 111 proof, a few drops of water open the aromatics considerably and soften the spice without dulling the complexity — neat with a splash is the ideal starting point. For cocktails, the rye-heavy backbone makes it versatile in spirit-forward builds:

• Old Fashioned — The brown sugar and cinnamon notes amplify the classic demerara-and-bitters template.
• Boulevardier — Its bold rye spice and chocolate orange cut through sweet vermouth and Campari with authority.
• Manhattan — The high-rye character gives this the dry backbone of a rye Manhattan while retaining bourbon's sweetness.

Best For

• Gifting a bourbon collector who values limited-production releases
• Adding a rare MGP mashbill expression to a whiskey library
• Hosting a side-by-side tasting comparing high-rye bourbons
• Celebrating a milestone with a barrel-proof pour that rewards slow sipping

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Babe Ruth Reserve taste like? It leads with brown sugar and candied pecans, moves through chocolate orange and ginger at mid-palate, and finishes with sustained rye spice and cinnamon. The 111-proof delivery is warming but well-integrated for a barrel-proof bourbon.

How does Babe Ruth Reserve compare to Remus Repeal Reserve? Remus Repeal Reserve uses older stocks (9, 10, and 16-year-old high-rye bourbons) bottled at a lower 100 proof, producing a more oak-driven, mature profile. Babe Ruth Reserve relies on younger 6-7 year distillate at a higher 111 proof, emphasizing raw grain intensity and rye spice over extended barrel influence.

Is Babe Ruth Reserve good for sipping neat? Yes — the 55.5% ABV carries significant complexity that rewards neat sipping, though a few drops of water help open the cherry pie and horchata aromatics and tame the proof for extended sessions.

Where is Babe Ruth Reserve made? It is distilled and blended at Ross & Squibb Distillery (the historic MGP facility) in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, one of the most prolific bourbon and rye distilleries in the United States.

What foods pair well with Babe Ruth Reserve? Pecan pie complements the candied nut and brown sugar notes. Dark chocolate truffles echo the chocolate orange character. Smoked brisket stands up to the barrel-proof intensity. Aged Gouda mirrors the caramel sweetness. Cinnamon-spiced apple tart reinforces the baking-spice finish.

What sizes does Babe Ruth Reserve come in? The standard release is a 750ml bottle, and no other size variants have been confirmed for this limited edition.

Is Babe Ruth Reserve worth the price? It positions as a premium limited-edition bourbon above the standard George Remus and Repeal Reserve lines, justified by its rare triple-mashbill composition, barrel-proof bottling, and production cap of 10,624 bottles.

Why Babe Ruth Reserve?

The defining feature here is the mashbill composition. The 49% rye bourbon recipe is among the rarest grain bills MGP has ever produced — effectively a bourbon that drinks like a rye. Blending that with 36% and 44% rye mashbills at barrel proof creates a layered, spice-dominant profile unlike anything else in the George Remus lineup. With a Gold Medal from the San Francisco World Spirits Competition and only 10,624 bottles in existence, this is a release built for collectors and serious drinkers who want to taste what happens when bourbon pushes right up against the rye whiskey boundary.