Review: Redemption The Ancients Collection Bourbon 18 Years Old
In the realm of heralded and esoteric American whiskey, Redemption’s Ancients series made its mark in 2017 with two bottles that have become pillars of “If you know, you know.” The first was an ultra-rare 36 year-old bourbon, blended from some of MGP’s oldest stocks and totaling just 18 bottles. The second was a slightly more “common” release, an 18 year old rye release that, according to the brand, numbered just 600 bottles. (Rumors abound of a slightly higher bottle count, though none are confirmed.)
Eight years later, Redemption is back with the third entry in its Ancients collection, this time an 18 year-old blend of bourbon sourced from MGP. With a total bottle count of 2,400 and an MSRP of around $400, it’s the brand’s most premium release in years. It’s also the first Ancients release under the guidance of Master Blender Alan Kennedy, who personally selected and married each barrel used.
Kennedy said he ultimately rejected a number of 18+ year-old barrels Redemption had in stock, a seemingly tough decision by any measure. In press notes about the bottling, the brand also emphasized a desire to highlight the character of the Lawrenceburg-distilled high-rye mashbills.
The final blend was bottled at a cask strength 51.7% abv. Let’s see how it tastes.
Redemption Ancients 18-Year-Old Bourbon Review
The nose starts off like a cherry Jolly Rancher melted atop a charred oak stave. It’s deeply fruity, and while that rich red cherry is most prominent, crushed raspberries, ripe peach skins, and pomegranate juice are also perceptible a level or two below. Standard baking spice is present, but while familiar, it’s not exactly run of the mill, with cinnamon and allspice gracefully weaving in and out of those fruit elements; the spice only grows with time in the glass. Perhaps most importantly, the wood influence is spot on here, brash and pushed right up to the line of overly oaked but never deigning to cross it. The proof will ultimately be in the palate, but even here, it’s clear Kennedy was blending with a deft touch and pushing certain aromas to capacity without spilling over.
A first sip brings black cherry syrup and dark chocolate shavings, with a big initial burst of flavor that takes another sip or two to parse. It’s not discordant, but simply rich enough to warrant some more thought. While oak, cola, and leather tannins build, the cherry becomes noticeably brighter, back into bright red hard candy territory. It’s a pretty elegant foil to the leather, and the midpalate gradually settles into a rustic cherry cola, viscous with real sugar as the sweet backbone. Tiny hits of sweetened espresso and naturally flavored mint gum lead into the back palate and provide a nice off-ramp from red fruit.
The finish is longer than most and deserves top marks all-around. Cherry cordial lingers and mint builds to its high point. If I had a nit to pick, it’s that the viscosity dissipates just slightly, not so much undermining the flavor as creating a texture shift I wasn’t quite expecting. But that’s a small critique at best. Redemption’s new 18 year-old bourbon is great MGP whiskey, blended with skill approaching mastery. I loved this stuff.
103.4 proof.
A / $400 / redemptionwhiskey.com
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