Rebel Yell Straight Bourbon Whiskey is distilled and aged in the bourbon country of Louisville, Kentucky. It’s made with wheat instead of the traditional rye that most other bourbons contain which gives it a smoother, more pleasant taste. In fact, the website claims that the distillery was the first one to ever use wheat instead of rye to make a bourbon. The spirit was first created in the days of the California Gold Rush in 1849 by a fellow named W. L. Weller. Weller’s distillery was a family business that has been handed down from generation to generation.
I liken Rebel Yell to an eighteen year old girl: young, fresh, sweet, but immature. When I took a whiff of the spirit, the aroma was very sweet, but I could tell that it just didn’t have that distinct odor that a well-matured bourbon possesses. I did notice a slight honey smell, but I certainly did not sense the butter or raisin scents that the distiller claims are present. At least the aroma isn’t god-awful like some of the other cheap bourbons out there. I couldn’t find any information about how long the actual aging process is, but I know by default it’s at least two years. Quite honestly, this stuff kind of tastes like it was matured the day before I bought it. I would even bet the “aging” process occurred during the truck ride to the liquor store. The spirit really lacked the true “mature” aroma one expects from a bourbon.
The first sip of Rebel Yell wasn’t exactly a pleasant one. I figured the taste wouldn’t be all that great coming from a cheap bourbon, but this stuff is pretty low-end. The flavor definitely contains a sweet honey taste, but that’s about it. I almost thought I could taste a little caramel flavor hiding in there somewhere. There was a minor burn after sipping it, and the flavor lingered a bit longer than I wanted it to. I tried mixing it with a little Coke©, but all that seemed to do was dilute the spirit and not add any extra flavor to it. I actually thought that it tasted better on the rocks without any mixers.
After the standard four drinks, I wasn’t buzzing too much. I had the usual warm feeling from drinking alcohol, but I wasn’t “floating” or feeling extra happy like I usually am when I’m buzzing hardcore. Sad to say, I didn’t get drunk off this bourbon. I was a little disappointed. I’m not saying that I wish four drinks would get me drunk off my rear, but after those four drinks, I felt like I had just sipped on a couple of wine coolers. Also, the following morning seemed like any other morning; I was completely functional with no remnants of the night before.
Rebel Yell Straight Bourbon Whiskey is a bottom-shelf bourbon with low potential. What do you expect … it’s cheap! At a whopping $9 a bottle, this stuff is okay if you’re on a budget and need to get some cheap bourbon for the night. Don’t expect it to get you hammered too quickly though. I would recommend splurging and going for something much higher on the shelf than this stuff. Cheers!
Sipability - 5.0
Mixability - 4.5
Drunkability - 4.5
Hangover-ability - 6.5
Bang for the Buck - 9.0
Overall - 5.0 
Comments
“…young, fresh, sweet, but immature.” Well said. Rebel Yell probably has the weakest taste of any bourbon I’ve tried. Poured over the rocks, it was a staple during my broke grad school days. For old-times sake, I bought a bottle a while back. After five years of largely Maker’s Mark and Woodford Reserve, I couldn’t make it through half the bottle. Yeesch! Not particulary nasty but not good, either. There are worse whiskies for sure, particularly in the hangover department.
Not a terrible bourbon. It’s pretty easy to drink. A shame that the flavor is so simple.
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