Regardless of having a large arsenal of well-aged stock, ultra-aged releases from Redemption Whiskey are few and much between. Again in November 2017, Redemption launched a pair of ultra-aged expressions in its Ancients sequence. The primary one was an 18 yr previous rye, distilled in 1998 at Ross & Squibb Distillery (then known as Jos. E. Seagram Lawrenceburg Plant). On the time, the 18 yr previous was touted as Redemption’s oldest whiskey ever launched—nevertheless it wouldn’t keep that method for lengthy. Only a few weeks later, Redemption rolled out a 36 yr previous bourbon that was restricted to 18 bottles and carried a $1,200 price ticket.
These expressions had been nicely acquired, and aged Redemption expressions had been getting consideration from whiskey lovers. In 2023, a bottle of 36 yr previous Redemption rye appeared in a Sotheby’s American whiskey public sale, and wound up promoting for $18,000. However by then Redemption had discontinued the Ancients sequence, and turned its deal with youthful and extra broadly out there releases, together with the extra experimental Specialty Sequence whiskeys just like the wine-inspired Sur Lee rye, rum cask-finished rye, and the fan-favorite cognac cask bourbon. This month, nonetheless, Redemption shocked followers by asserting that its Ancients sequence was returning with a brand new 18 yr previous bourbon.
A Uncommon Discover
In keeping with grasp blender Alan Kennedy, the lengthy wait was as a consequence of his reluctance to work with ultra-aged whiskey. Whereas double-digit age statements would possibly look good on a label, he says that the status isn’t at all times backed up by the liquid. “I’m going to be fully trustworthy, I didn’t wish to [bring Ancients back] at first,” he says. “Bourbon at 15 years or older, plenty of occasions, isn’t one of the best. It’s not the prime time for it,” he added, explaining that older whiskeys can are inclined to lose their steadiness because the oak grows extra distinguished with time. However he says that this new Ancients expression is an exception to the rule.
Inspiration struck whereas he was pulling some stock samples at Citadel & Key Distillery (C&Okay) in Frankfort, Kentucky, alongside along with his assistant blender. Throughout the go to, they got here throughout a choice of 18 yr previous bourbon barrels, which had been distilled at MGP again within the Lawrenceburg Distillers Indiana (LDI) days. Tasting by them, the pair was immediately impressed by how well-balanced the whiskey was. “It had attributes that I’ve missed in older whiskeys,” he explains. “Older whiskeys have previous leather-based and previous oak, however you possibly can solely get there normally when it’s overbearing to the remaining. However this had that steadiness that made me wish to drink it.”
The unique lot accounted for 79 barrels, however not all of them had been used to make this launch. 4 of the barrels had been destroyed in transit once they had been initially shipped from Indiana to Kentucky, and a further two had been misplaced to leaks whereas housed at C&Okay. Of the remaining barrels, 4 had been disqualified by Kennedy for being astringent, overly tannic, or having heavy char notes which didn’t match the profile. The ultimate mix contains 69 barrels complete; 4 of them have the model’s high-rye (36%) mashbill, whereas the remaining use the model’s mid-rye (21%) recipe. Whereas mixing them collectively, Kennedy particularly selected to go together with a protracted aeration time—pumping air by the tanks for 3 hours—which he says helped break up among the oakiness whereas accentuating vanilla notes.
Redemption Ancients 18 yr previous bourbon yielded 2,400 bottles, making it the most important launch within the sequence by far—roughly twice as large as the unique 18 yr previous rye. The whiskey carries a prompt retail value of $400, and it may be discovered at choose retailers nationwide and on-line by way of ReserveBar. Kennedy says that he would like to create extra Ancients sequence blends sooner or later, however he doesn’t but have something concrete within the pipeline. He notes that the essential first step could be discovering one other lot of barrels that he deems worthy of being bottled underneath the Ancients banner.
Redemption Ancients Sequence 18 yr previous Bourbon
ABV: 51.7%
SRP: $400
Availability: 2,400 bottles; at choose retailers and on-line
