Review #171: Remus Gatsby Reserve 2024

MASH BILL: A blend of two bourbons:

• 75% corn, 21% rye, 4% malted barley
• 60% corn, 36% rye, 4% malted barley

PROOF: 104.9

AGE: 15 yrs

COST: SRP is $230 for 750mL bottle (I'm reviewing a sample)

When the first few Gatsby Reserve releases came out, I thought $200 was a bit high to get a bottle blindly before trying it. To top it off, I wasn’t really seeing many reviews about them so passed and didn’t ever seek out a pour. Then the 2024 release rolled around, and I’m not sure what it was about the 2024 release but suddenly I started seeing a bunch of reviews of it (and overall praising it). In my head, I chalked it up to be the RR15 hype making people fawn after 15 yr age statements. But then I started seeing some people, whose palates align with mine, give it really high reviews as well. This made me think this one would be worth checking out. I found it in a couple stores nearby, but for nothing less than $250. While only marginally above the SRP, I still found this as an excuse not to buy a bottle. Then a friend hooked me up with a sample to try so that I can develop my own opinion…well, let’s see what that opinion is!

Reviewed neat in a Glencairn.

APPEARANCE: A warm mahogany color (1.6). A quick swirl leaves a ring behind taking nearly a minute before finally producing molasses on a cold day slow legs.

NOSE: Sweet with sophistication. Luxardo cherry is the main character with black licorice, leather, and caramel playing support roles. With my nose above the rim of the glass I find vanilla, sweet tea, and a little mint. Dipping my nose deeper below the rim I find richer cherry, mint, orange zest, and amaretto.

PALATE: Wow…not what I was expecting. Much spicier on the palate after that nose. Almond extract, burnt caramel, cinnamon, allspice, and mint standout. As the sweeter side of the almond extract and burnt caramel fade, notes of charred oak, old leather, and dark chocolate join the heat and bite of the almond extract and spices. The longer I hold it on my tongue, the more I get black cherry notes as well. The mouthfeel is a bit thinner than I expected for as thick as it looked on the glass.

FINISH: The finish is long, no dryness, and a little refreshing with a robust pop of mint right at first. But overall, it captures more spicy and earthy aspects of this sip. Notes of sweet oak, cigar wrapper, and varnish set the stage. A little medicinal cherry shows up as the sweet oak begins to fade. The tobacco and varnish/extract bring this to a close long, long after the swallow.

RATING: 8.7/10

OVERALL: This certainly shows its age with lots of deep notes and complexity. It was a lot spicier than I expected, but after reviewing the blend of mash bills in this (high rye), not necessarily surprising. There’s a lot of mint going on, and I’m generally not a fan of mint, but it was really complex and gave me plenty of other notes to dig for. I haven’t purchased one of these Gatsby Reserve bottles in the past, but after experiencing this one, I will probably lean more towards getting this annual release based on this experience.

1 | Disgusting | ...I've not subjected myself to this level

2 | Poor | Balcones Lineage

3 | Bad | High West Double Rye, Jefferson's Ocean 28

4 | Sub-par | Weller's SR, Woodford Reserve Distiller's Select

5 | Good | Buffalo Trace, Sazerac Rye, Green River Wheated

6 | Very Good | Blanton's, Holladay Bourbons, Eagle Rare

7 | Great | Baker's 7yr SiB, BBCo Origin High Wheat, 1792 BiB

8 | Excellent | Most ECBP batches, JD SiB BiB, High West MWND Act 11

9 | Incredible | Woodford Reserve Batch Proof 121.2, BBC DS #7, Four Roses OESQ

10 | Perfect | Found North Batch 08, RR15