George Remus Repeal Reserve Bourbon Series IX 750ML

George Remus Repeal Reserve Bourbon Series IX 750ML is a limited-edition blended bourbon bottled at 104 proof (52% ABV) in a 750ml bottle, marking the highest proof release in the Repeal Reserve series to date. Scored 94 points by Whiskey Advocate, this ninth annual installment combines four distinct MGP bourbon recipes aged between 10 and 18 years, delivered non-chill filtered for maximum texture and flavor.

Quick Facts: ABV: 52% (104 proof)  |  Origin: Lawrenceburg, Indiana, USA  |  Aged 10–18 Years  |  Distillery: Ross & Squibb Distillery

Production & Heritage

Series IX is produced at Ross & Squibb Distillery in Lawrenceburg, Indiana — a facility with deep roots in American whiskey production. The blend marries four separate MGP bourbon mashbills in precise proportions: 44% of a 10-year bourbon with 21% rye, 23% of a 10-year bourbon with 36% rye, 26% of an 11-year bourbon with 36% rye, and 7% of a rare 18-year bourbon with 21% rye. That 18-year component is a significant inclusion, adding layers of mature oak complexity that anchor the blend. Non-chill filtration preserves the full body and natural oils developed across those extended aging periods, and the 104-proof bottling strength — the highest the series has ever reached — lets those barrel characteristics come through without dilution.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Seasoned oak leads immediately, followed by tobacco leaf and worn leather. Underneath, sweeter notes of ripe cherry, roasted coffee, and warm wood spice emerge as the bourbon opens up in the glass.

Taste: The entry is thick and rich with caramel and butterscotch, transitioning quickly into dark chocolate fudge and walnut at mid-palate. Stone fruit — plum and ripe pear — surfaces alongside baking spices like cinnamon and clove, while a mineral-like undertone and brown sugar sweetness round out the peak. The mouthfeel is notably syrupy and full without the oak becoming overbearing.

Finish: Long and warming, with toasted oak and leather persisting alongside dried cherry and a thread of espresso bitterness. A savory whisper of tobacco and dry wood lingers well after the last sip, leaving a layered, contemplative close.

How to Drink Repeal Reserve Series IX

At 104 proof, this bourbon rewards a slow, neat pour — let it sit for five minutes and consider a few drops of water to unlock the stone fruit and chocolate layers beneath the oak. It also holds its own in spirit-forward cocktails. An Old Fashioned benefits from the dark chocolate and baking spice notes, which pair naturally with orange oil and bitters. A Boulevardier leverages the bourbon's rich, syrupy texture to stand up against Campari and sweet vermouth. A Manhattan is a logical match given the high rye content in two of the four mashbills, amplifying the spice and dried cherry notes already present in the spirit.

Best For

• Annual limited-release bourbon collectors tracking each Repeal Reserve series
• Gifting a whiskey enthusiast who appreciates well-aged, high-proof Indiana bourbon
• Side-by-side tastings comparing MGP-sourced blended bourbons and their mashbill variations
• End-of-evening sipping when you want something contemplative with significant barrel depth

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Repeal Reserve Series IX taste like? Series IX delivers a rich, layered profile led by dark chocolate fudge, caramel, and butterscotch, with supporting notes of walnut, stone fruit, baking spices, and a distinctive tobacco-leather undercurrent from its extended aging. The mouthfeel is thick and syrupy at 104 proof, finishing long with toasted oak and espresso.

How does Repeal Reserve Series IX compare to Four Roses Small Batch Limited Edition? The comparison is well-founded — Ross & Squibb Distillery and Four Roses both trace lineage to the old Seagram empire and share similar barrel entry proofs, maturation philosophies, and even some of the same yeast strains and recipes. Series IX mirrors Four Roses SmBLE's blending approach of incorporating ultra-aged components for complexity, though it skews toward a darker, more oak-driven character at its higher proof point.

Is Repeal Reserve Series IX good for sipping neat? Absolutely — the non-chill filtered, 104-proof bottling was designed for neat or near-neat drinking, and the rich mouthfeel and layered finish reward patient sipping. A few drops of water can open up additional stone fruit and chocolate nuances.

Where is Repeal Reserve Series IX made? It is produced at Ross & Squibb Distillery in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, a major MGP distilling facility known for producing high-quality bourbon and rye whiskey. Lawrenceburg sits in southeastern Indiana along the Ohio River, a historically significant region for American distilling.

What foods pair well with Repeal Reserve Series IX? Dark chocolate truffles complement the fudge and espresso notes directly. Pecan pie mirrors the caramel and nutty oak character. Smoked brisket stands up to the bourbon's 104-proof intensity and leather-tobacco finish. Aged Gouda echoes the caramel and butterscotch sweetness, and stone fruit desserts like plum tart reinforce the mid-palate fruit notes.

What sizes does Repeal Reserve Series IX come in? Repeal Reserve Series IX is released in the standard 750ml bottle size as a limited annual edition.

Is Repeal Reserve Series IX worth the price? Series IX positions as a premium limited-edition bourbon, and the inclusion of 10- to 18-year-old components, non-chill filtration, and a 94-point Whiskey Advocate score place it competitively among annual limited-release bourbons in its tier. For drinkers who value well-aged, high-proof MGP bourbon with transparent blending details, it represents strong value relative to comparable allocated releases.

Why Repeal Reserve Series IX?

The defining achievement of Series IX is its four-recipe blend architecture — a precise combination of two different rye percentages across four age statements, anchored by a rare 18-year component that comprises 7% of the final liquid. That ultra-aged bourbon contributes a depth of seasoned oak and leather that younger blends simply cannot replicate. At 104 proof, this is the most assertive Repeal Reserve bottling yet, and the non-chill filtration ensures nothing is stripped in the process. Earning 94 points from Whiskey Advocate confirms that the increased proof and mature stock translate into genuine quality, not just marketing ambition — this is a serious bourbon that builds meaningfully on eight previous series releases.