Review: Remus Gatsby Reserve 2025
The most limited Remus release is back for a fourth installment. For 2025, the latest Gatsby Reserve commemorates the 100-year anniversary of the bottling’s namesake, F. Scott Fitzgerald’s timeless and very depressing novel, The Great Gatsby. The previous releases have all been blends of Ross & Squibb’s 21% and 26% rye bourbon recipes, but for this latest offering, Master Distiller Ian Stirsman drew solely from bourbon stocks made from the 75% corn, 21% rye, and 4% malted barley mashbill. Once again, the youngest whiskey in the bottle is 15 years old and the cask strength proof is uncommonly low at 51.4% abv. Thoughts follow.
Remus Gatsby Reserve 2025 Review
Like the 2024 release, there’s a lot of barrel on display in this latest offering. Out of the gate, the aroma is dark and a bit dusty with notes of cocoa powder, cigar wrapper, and sandalwood. Sweeter undertones of damson plum and split vanilla bean don’t do much to curb the initial austerity, but the earthy and oak-driven elements eventually soften as things open in the glass. With more time and a drop or two of water, things coalesce into a warm, inviting bouquet of clove syrup, worn leather, and dark chocolate.
The palate is a little lighter than previous iterations but still full-favored and well-spiced. Top notes of black tea, walnut skins, baking chocolate, and burned sugar give way to a brighter midpalate of spearmint and licorice. It’s a touch astringent with plenty of oaky tannins laced throughout, but they eventually unwind well enough on a peppery and fruity finish featuring cinnamon toast, rum raisins, orange marmalade, and tart cherry. There aren’t many other bourbons that can age this long and show this much balance and approachability at cask strength. Like the 2024 release before it, the barrel influence can take some navigating. But that notwithstanding, this latest Gatsby Reserve continues an impressive trend.
102.8 proof.
B+ / $200 [BUY IT NOW FROM FROOTBAT]
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