Rebel BottleStork Single Barrel Bourbon 750ML

Rebel BottleStork Single Barrel 750ML is a cask-strength wheated single barrel bourbon bottled at 56.5% ABV (113 proof) in a 750ml format. This Distiller's Collection private barrel selection highlights the Rebel brand's signature wheated mashbill at full barrel proof, hand-picked and bottled without dilution to showcase the distinct character of one individual barrel. The broader Rebel single barrel program has earned notable industry recognition, including a World's Best Single Barrel Bourbon award from Whisky Magazine's 2020 World Whiskies Awards for the 10-Year expression.

Quick Facts: ABV: 56.5% (113 Proof)  |  Origin: Bardstown, Kentucky  |  Wheated Single Barrel Bourbon (NAS)  |  Distillery: Lux Row Distillers

Production & Heritage

Rebel traces its wheated bourbon lineage to 1849 and a recipe that would become synonymous with the legendary Stitzel-Weller Distillery. Today, Lux Row Distillers in Bardstown, Kentucky produces Rebel using a mashbill of 68% corn, 20% wheat, and 12% malted barley — the wheat replacing the more common rye to deliver a softer, sweeter character. This Distiller's Collection expression is bottled at 113 proof, a strength determined by the Head Distiller as the optimal proof point for the smoothest taste profile in the Rebel range; barrels are allocated to retailers via sample selection rather than in-person warehouse picks.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Initial waves of honey and fresh wheat bread open the nose, followed by cooling mint and dried grains. Deeper exploration uncovers butterscotch, tropical dried pineapple, and an underlying earthiness of tobacco leaf and sassafras.

Taste: The entry is hot and immediately sweet, presenting rich honey and maple syrup alongside honey-roasted peanuts. The mid-palate develops stone fruit and candied nuts before turning full and spicy with bold cinnamon and dark chocolate. At barrel proof, the wheat softness keeps the sweetness forward even as the proof asserts itself.

Finish: Long and warming, dominated by cinnamon candy and persistent honey sweetness. Dried apple, sassafras leaves, and tobacco leaf add earthy complexity that lingers well beyond the final sip.

How to Drink Rebel Single Barrel

At 113 proof, start neat to experience the full barrel character, then add a few drops of water to unlock additional layers of fruit and sweetness buried beneath the proof. On the rocks, the slow ice melt gradually tempers the heat and amplifies the honey and stone fruit notes.

In an Old Fashioned, the cinnamon-honey sweetness pairs beautifully with bitters and a citrus peel, creating a rich and balanced cocktail. A Gold Rush — bourbon, honey syrup, and fresh lemon — plays directly into this barrel's dominant honey character. For a Whiskey Sour, the high proof stands up to citrus and egg white without losing its butterscotch backbone.

Best For

• Bourbon collectors hunting unique single barrel picks at barrel proof
• Gifting a wheated bourbon enthusiast something outside the usual Weller or Maker's Mark rotation
• Side-by-side tastings comparing wheated versus rye-forward bourbon profiles
• After-dinner fireside sipping when you want a full-flavored pour with real weight

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Rebel Single Barrel taste like? It leads with rich honey, maple syrup, and honey-roasted peanuts before developing spicy cinnamon and dark chocolate at the mid-palate. The finish is long and warming with lingering cinnamon candy, dried apple, and earthy tobacco leaf.

How does Rebel Single Barrel compare to Larceny Bourbon? Both are Kentucky wheated bourbons, but this Rebel expression is bottled at a significantly higher 113 proof versus Larceny Small Batch's 92 proof, delivering considerably more intensity and barrel influence. Larceny tends toward a lighter, more approachable profile, while the Rebel single barrel leans into fuller body, bigger spice, and richer sweetness.

Is Rebel Single Barrel good for sipping neat? Yes — despite its 113-proof strength, the wheated mashbill keeps the sweetness prominent and the mouthfeel relatively soft for a barrel-proof bourbon. A few drops of water can further smooth the experience for those sensitive to higher proof.

Where is Rebel Single Barrel made? Rebel Single Barrel is produced at Lux Row Distillers in Bardstown, Kentucky, in the heart of bourbon country. The brand traces its wheated recipe heritage to 1849 and the distillery tradition that would become Stitzel-Weller.

What foods pair well with Rebel Single Barrel? Pecan pie and bread pudding complement the honey-forward sweetness. Smoked pork belly or barbecue ribs stand up to the barrel-proof intensity. Dark chocolate truffles echo the chocolate mid-palate notes, while sharp aged cheddar provides a savory contrast to the bourbon's sweetness.

What sizes does Rebel Single Barrel come in? This Distiller's Collection single barrel selection is available in the standard 750ml bottle.

Is Rebel Single Barrel worth the price? As a barrel-proof single barrel private selection, this expression positions in the premium tier of the Rebel range and competes favorably with other wheated barrel-proof bourbons that often carry higher price tags or limited availability.

Why Rebel Single Barrel?

What sets this expression apart is the intersection of heritage recipe and single barrel intensity — a wheated mashbill dating to 1849 bottled at the Head Distiller's chosen 113-proof sweet spot. The Rebel single barrel program has proven its pedigree, with the 10-Year variant earning World's Best Single Barrel Bourbon at the 2020 World Whiskies Awards and a 92-point score from Whisky Advocate. This particular pick delivers a full-throttle wheated bourbon experience — all honey, spice, and barrel char — without the allocated scarcity and inflated secondary pricing that plagues comparable wheated expressions. For drinkers who appreciate barrel-proof wheated bourbon on its own terms, this is a serious pour at an accessible tier.