Rebel Stave Collection Liquor Barn Caramel Honey Single Barrel 750ML

Rebel Stave Collection Liquor Barn Caramel Honey Single Barrel 750ML is a wheated Kentucky straight bourbon (750ml) finished with specially toasted caramel honey staves for added depth. This single barrel selection highlights how secondary wood contact can reshape a bourbon's character, layering pronounced caramel and honey sweetness over the soft wheat-forward base that defines the Rebel lineup.

Quick Facts: Category: Wheated Bourbon  |  Origin: Kentucky, USA  |  Aged 4 Years  |  Distillery: Lux Row Distillers, Bardstown  |  Mashbill: 68% Corn, 20% Wheat, 12% Malted Barley

Production & Heritage

The Rebel brand traces its recipe to 1849 and the legacy of the historic Stitzel-Weller Distillery in Louisville. Today, the bourbon is produced at Lux Row Distillers in Bardstown, Kentucky, a facility operated by Luxco (now part of MGP Ingredients). The base spirit is distilled from a mashbill of 68% corn, 20% wheat, and 12% malted barley, then aged for four years in new charred American white oak barrels. What distinguishes the Stave Collection from standard Rebel expressions is a secondary finishing step: specially toasted staves—in this case, toasted to a "caramel honey" profile—are inserted into the barrel to impart additional flavor layers beyond what the initial char provides. Each single barrel selection yields a unique result, making bottle-to-bottle variation part of the appeal.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Warm butterscotch and golden honey greet the nose first, followed by toasted oak and a faint dusting of baking spice. The wheated mashbill keeps the aromatics soft and approachable rather than grain-forward.

Taste: The palate opens with rich caramel sweetness that aligns closely with the stave treatment's intent. Mid-palate, honey and vanilla bean develop alongside a gentle creaminess characteristic of wheat-recipe bourbons. A layer of toasted wood and light cinnamon spice emerges as the sip progresses, keeping the sweetness balanced.

Finish: Medium in length with lingering caramel and warm oak tannins that taper gradually. A final note of honeyed grain rounds out the experience cleanly without bitterness.

How to Drink Rebel Stave Caramel Honey

Neat or with a single ice cube is the most rewarding approach, allowing the toasted stave influence to express itself fully. The bourbon's sweet profile also makes it a natural cocktail ingredient. An Old Fashioned benefits from the pronounced caramel, reducing the need for added sugar. A Gold Rush (bourbon, honey syrup, lemon) reinforces the honey character already present in the spirit. A Bourbon Smash with fresh mint and lemon pairs well with the softer wheat-driven texture.

Best For

• Bourbon collectors exploring stave-finished single barrel selections
• Wheated bourbon enthusiasts looking to expand beyond standard expressions
• Hosting a bourbon tasting flight comparing stave finishes
• Gifting to someone who favors sweeter, dessert-leaning whiskey profiles

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Rebel Stave Caramel Honey taste like? It delivers prominent caramel and honey sweetness built on a creamy wheated bourbon foundation, with supporting notes of vanilla, toasted oak, and mild baking spice.

How does Rebel Stave Caramel Honey compare to Larceny Small Batch? Both are wheated Kentucky bourbons, but Rebel Stave Caramel Honey undergoes an additional finishing step with toasted staves that significantly amplifies caramel and honey notes. Larceny Small Batch, produced by Heaven Hill, tends toward a more traditional wheated profile with butter, bread, and light nuttiness.

Is Rebel Stave Caramel Honey good for sipping neat? Yes—its smooth wheated base and the added sweetness from the toasted staves make it especially approachable for neat drinking, even for those newer to bourbon.

Where is Rebel Stave Caramel Honey made? It is distilled and aged at Lux Row Distillers in Bardstown, Kentucky, a facility owned by Luxco (part of MGP Ingredients). The brand's recipe originates from the historic Stitzel-Weller Distillery tradition.

What foods pair well with Rebel Stave Caramel Honey? Pecan pie amplifies the caramel and nutty oak notes. Aged Gouda mirrors the bourbon's butterscotch sweetness. Smoked pork belly balances the honey character with savory fat. Dark chocolate truffles complement the toasted oak tannins. Crème brûlée echoes the caramelized sugar profile directly.

What sizes does Rebel Stave Caramel Honey come in? This single barrel selection is available in the standard 750ml bottle size.

Is Rebel Stave Caramel Honey worth the price? It positions as a mid-range bourbon with the added value of single barrel selection and a secondary stave finish—a production step typically found in higher-priced limited releases. For wheated bourbon fans, it represents strong value relative to its complexity.

Why Rebel Stave Caramel Honey?

The defining feature here is the toasted caramel honey stave finish, a technique that goes beyond standard barrel aging to introduce flavors the original char alone cannot deliver. Built on a four-year-aged wheated mashbill—68% corn, 20% wheat, 12% malted barley—the bourbon starts from an inherently soft, approachable base. The single barrel format ensures each bottle carries its own personality, making this more than a mass-produced product. For drinkers who appreciate wheated bourbons like Maker's Mark or Larceny but want a distinctly sweeter, more dessert-oriented direction, this expression fills a specific and compelling niche.