Rebel Cask Strength Store Pick a Review (120 Proof) – Caramel Candy on Fire Price Paid: $45
TL;DR: Dessert-forward, hot on the nose, sweet on the tongue, long warming finish. The warming is long due to the heat and not necessarily the type bold flavors that stick to your tongue. A solid value play at $45, even if it doesn’t quite reach legendary status.

Preface:
Tasted in a Glencairn, but no—I didn’t wait an hour for it to “open up.” I gave it a respectful 5-minute swirl session. Look, if you’re out here letting your bourbon breathe for 60 minutes, you either have too much free time or the patience of a monk. I’m just trying to live my life and get to sipping.

Nose:
Caramel and toffee right up front, like a dessert tray trying to kill you with kindness. But don’t get too cozy—there’s a good whack of ethanol that reminds you this is a 120 proof rebel. It’s hot. Every sniff stings just a little, but not in a bad way. You’ll catch some dried fruit—prunes, raisins—if you go looking, but they’re more background singers than headliners. Was hoping for more oak or deeper aged notes, but the wood was playing hard to get.

Palate & Finish:
Sweet on entry, then a long and warming finish that kind of tingles your tongue like a marshmallow left too long over the fire. Mouth-drying, tongue-tingling, and just bold enough to make you say “whoa” out loud. It doesn’t evolve much from first sip to last, but what it does, it does with confidence. And maybe a little attitude.

Final Thoughts:
I like to judge bourbon against Eagle Rare—mainly because it’s easy to get in California and it’s a solid, dependable pour. Compared to Eagle Rare, this Rebel pick is louder, hotter, and sweeter. But for a 120 proof cask strength, I was hoping for a bit more concentrated flavor and complexity. That said, $45 for cask strength? That’s hard to argue with in today’s market.

Score: 8/10 (factoring in the price—without the value play, maybe closer to a 7)

Verdict:
If you like high-proof bourbon that leans sweet and don’t mind a little heat, this is a fun one. Not life-changing, but definitely not a regret. Would I buy again? Probably, especially if I’m in the mood for something strong and sweet that doesn't water down my cocktail.

My friend brought this to share.

Price: $140

Nose: some caramel, mustyness, some kind of old oak note, cherry, apple, a little bit of ethanol, but not much.

Palate: pretty watery, mouth feel is thin. Dominated by herbal notes like mint, dill, etc. some caramel, but not overly sweet. Some spice in the back palate.

Finish: very little finish, short. Mostly oak dominated with some dark chocolate.

Rating: 6.0

The nose is pretty nice on this, and it has decent flavor on the palate. The mouth feel really let's it down along with the lack of a finish. The palate is too watery.

I wouldn't pay anywhere close to $140 for this. It's not bad by any means, but it's overpriced.

Scale

1.0-1.9 Undrinkable (Gold bar cognac cask)

2.0-2.9 Bad (Gold bar)

3.0-3.9 Poor (High West Prarie Bourbon, Pappy Van Winkle 23yr)

4.0-4.9 Below Average (Old Overholt, Dickel 15 yr, Weller SR)

5.0-5.9 Average (Eagle Rare, Buffalo Trace, Blanton's)

6.0-6.9 Above Average (Jimmy Russel 70th, Redemption 9yr, E.H. Taylor Seasoned Oak)

7.0-7.9 Very Good (Wild Turkey Master's Keep Triumph, Sagamore 9yr rye, Jack Daniel's SBBP)

8.0-8.9 Great (William Larue Weller(2019), Pappy Van Winkle 15yr, Double Eagle Very Rare, William Heavenhill 14yr)

9.0-9.9 Excellent (Thomas H. Handy (2010), George T. Stagg (2008, 2019), Four Roses LE (2016, 2023), Willet Purple Top 14 yr)

10.0 Perfect (Michter's 20)

Verdicts Explained

• Special Occasions: Rare, special pours that go well and above. Something you pour to celebrate.
• Treat Yourself: Obligatory weekend pour. Worth having on hand at all times if possible.
• Daily Drinker: Affordable, available and tasty. Could have every day and be perfectly content.
• Penseur Pour: Puzzling pours that won’t be to everyone’s liking.
• Trophy Bottle: Something to show off more than anything. Likely allocated and overpriced.
• Cocktail Request: Shines best in a cocktail, as opposed to neat or on the rocks.
• Good If Affordable: Only worth buying if the price comfortably fits within the budget.
• Serve to Guests: Something accessible that you don’t mind sharing or parting ways with. Likely belongs in a decanter.
• Couch Pour: Something enjoyable enough, but ideal for drinking while doing another activity (movies, TV, games, etc.).
• Find a Mixer: Grab the Coke or Sprite and relax.
• Drain Pour: No. You deserve better.

Link to blog post: https://thewhiskeyramble.com/2025/04/05/13th-colony-15th-anniversary-scoresheet-review/

More scoresheets available at: https://www.reddit.com/r/SpiritScoresheets/

13^th Colony has become one of the most talked about fresh faces in the American whiskey scene. Founded in Americus, GA, the distillery’s namesake refers to the Province of Georgia between 1732 and 1782, the last of the British colonies that supported the American Revolution. Although 13^th Colony as a brand was established in 2009, it wasn’t until 2022 that interest in the producer lit up like wildfire, squarely thanks to its Double Oaked expression. Between the opaque liquid color and rave reviews (mostly from WhiskeyTube), the hype machine was in full swing for the Georgia name.

Yet aspects of both the whiskey and the operation behind it also drew scrutiny. The primary pain points boiled down to the lack of “straight” on the label, the omission of a distilling source, and the suspected use of additives. Inquiries and subsequent responses from the distillery proved to be…less than enlightening. Although future 13^th Colony whiskeys will likely start bearing the straight whiskey designation, there remains a hazy air surrounding the brand.

I also have my share of skepticisms surrounding 13^th Colony, but I’d be lying if I said the portfolio doesn’t intrigue me. The distillery’s products just recently started showing up in my local market, and one that I was surprised to come into was their 15^th Anniversary bourbon release. Comprised of 25 barrels (distilling source and mash bill undisclosed) selected by Master Distiller Graham Arthur, 13^th Colony 15^th Anniversary was limited to just 3,330 bottles. Unsurprisingly, the paltry online allocations vanished as soon as they appeared, no doubt riding the coattails of Double Oaked’s popularity. This is despite a rather intimidating MSRP of $169.99.

One final note I’d like to emphasize is that, like Chattanooga’s Founder’s line, the 15^th Anniversary doesn’t mean the whiskey is 15 years old. In fact, the whiskey is reported to be aged 8 years and 9 months. The bottling strength also comes just under hazmat at 69.6% ABV. I mention the aging aspect because I’ve seen this bottle brought up in online discussions and referred to as “13^th Colony 15-Year,” which to me reads like declaring the whiskey as being aged for 15 years. This may just be semantics, but I felt compelled to mention it.

Nose: Butterscotch, Flan, Burnt Sugars, Salted Toffee

Pungent, Indulgent, Buttery

Palate: Salted Caramel, Crème Brulee, Molasses, Burnt Bacon

Dense, Rich, Strong

Finish: Flan, Caramel Sauce, Bacon Grease, Latte

Medium, Bitter, Musty

If 13^th Colony 15^th Anniversary is intended as a goal post of sorts for the brand’s future, then I’d say it’s lofty, but not unrealistic. The overall profile and ensuing experience hit me like Jack Daniel’s 12-Year Batch 1, which is appropriate, because both bottles left me saying, “this is really good; just not THAT good.” One reason is that I get a savory aftertaste matched with a bitter sensation not unlike most Old Forester products. Those who know me will realize this borders on being a crippling blow, depending on the whiskey. Furthermore, that savory sensation I get here? I got it in spades on 13^th Colony’s second Double Oaked release. And to put it bluntly: I hated it (both the sensation and product).

The good news is that the 15^th Anniversary release does a much better job mitigating these shortcomings, to the point that I enjoyed the pours I had with few qualms to speak of. I also understand why this release won over those who tried it—certainly more than I understand Double Oaked’s acclaim. I just don’t think it’s worth going nuts over.

I purchased this last year.

Price: $115

Nose: a little ethanol first. Very caramel. Oak. Not too complex, but pleasant. A little peanut. Some mint.

Palate: Decent mouthfeel, caramel and oak forward. Some herbal notes, minty.

Finish: very woody, medium length. Ok finish overall, but nothing special.

Rating: 6.5

If you like very oak forward bourbons, this would be for you. I personally think the oak flavor dominates too much, but it's still a solid pour.

Scale

1.0-1.9 Undrinkable (Gold bar cognac cask)

2.0-2.9 Bad (Gold bar)

3.0-3.9 Poor (High West Prarie Bourbon, Pappy Van Winkle 23yr)

4.0-4.9 Below Average (Old Overholt, Dickel 15 yr, Weller SR)

5.0-5.9 Average (Eagle Rare, Buffalo Trace, Blanton's)

6.0-6.9 Above Average (Jimmy Russel 70th, Redemption 9yr, E.H. Taylor Seasoned Oak)

7.0-7.9 Very Good (Wild Turkey Master's Keep Triumph, Sagamore 9yr rye, Jack Daniel's SBBP)

8.0-8.9 Great (William Larue Weller(2019), Pappy Van Winkle 15yr, Double Eagle Very Rare, William Heavenhill 14yr)

9.0-9.9 Excellent (Thomas H. Handy (2010), George T. Stagg (2008, 2019), Four Roses LE (2016, 2023), Willet Purple Top 14 yr)

10.0 Perfect (Michter's 20)

Look I been drinking but this one is damn special so I went ahead and took notes. Hope ya’ll enjoying the evening.

Nose: Thick oak, damp tobacco, orange peel, dusty shelf, autumn spice or some shit, ginger snap, sautéed mushrooms, really an eclectic nose it’s got huge character

Palate: Oily, peppery, sweet and leathery, citrus builds with oak, intense, bright bordering on pixie stick sweetness. Huge palate.

Finish: sweet, spicy, longgggg

Yeah it’s special. Drink it if you got it.

9/10 T8ke scale