There is a kind of mythology to Remus Bourbon, named for George Remus, the “King of the Bootleggers,” who turned Prohibition into personal empire and national scandal. Each fall, the Ross & Squibb Distillery in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, taps into that mythology with a release that feels more like ritual than commerce: the Remus Repeal Reserve. Now in its ninth edition, the Remus Repeal Reserve Series IX Straight Bourbon Whiskey arrives as the most powerful expression yet, clocking in at 104 proof (52% ABV).
Inside the Blend: Remus Repeal Reserve Series IX Bourbon
The numbers matter. They always have in bourbon, but especially here, where Series IX blends stocks aged between 10 and 18 years, a rare range in modern American whiskey. This year’s recipe tilts toward the house’s signature high-rye style: 7% of an 18-year bourbon with 21% rye, 26% of an 11-year bourbon at 36% rye, 23% of a 10-year bourbon at 36% rye, and 44% of another 10-year bourbon at 21% rye. That arithmetic, translated into flavor, yields something both layered and taut—an homage to history and a wager on the future.
Tasting Notes: Oak, Coffee, Cherry, and Tobacco
On the nose, the whiskey leans into seasoned oak and leather, warmed by ripe cherry and a wisp of tobacco. The palate turns darker: roasted coffee, smoky spice, and bursts of cherry sweetness. The finish is long, almost meditative, with oak and spice fading into coffee, cherry, and tobacco again, like an echo of its own opening.
“We found some of our most unique barrels to date for Series IX,” said Master Distiller Ian Stirsman. “After finalizing the blend, we blind-tasted it at different proofs to make sure we were hitting that sweet spot. At 104, we think we’ve landed on something that gives fans the experience they’ve come to expect.”
Expectations, of course, are high. The previous edition, Series VIII, was a decorated darling: platinum at the 2025 ASCOT Awards, double gold in San Francisco, and a 98-point score from The Tasting Panel. The series as a whole has become a fixture in the limited-release bourbon world, consistently praised for delivering luxury-level whiskey at a price still tethered—barely—to the attainable.
Price, Availability, and Where to Find Series IX
This year’s edition will be released in September with a suggested retail price of $99.99 per 750mL bottle. Limited quantities will make their way to select retailers nationwide.
For more information, or to track down a bottle, visit the brand’s official website.
