Review #712 - Remus Gatsby Reserve 2024
Ross and Squib (previously MGP) provides whisky for a number of different brands around the US, many of which will finish the bourbon/rye/other styles in their own fashion. Over the past couple of years, though, Ross and Squib has increasingly invested in their own brands, such as George Remus, Rossville Union, Rebel, and others; here's an example of one of their premium offerings, an annual release called the Remus Gatsby Reserve, a straight bourbon whiskey.
The connection between Ross and Squib, their Remus brand, and the Gatsby name is a reference to F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel 'The Great Gatsby' - the central figure in the novel, Jay Gatsby, is said to be heavily inspired by real-life persona George Remus, who was a bootlegger during the days of American Prohibition.
This 2024 edition of the release boasts a 15 year age statement; it's bottled at cask strength, which is a relatively low 52.45% ABV (104.9 proof) in this case. It's a blend of two different MGP bourbon mashbills: (1) 75% corn, 21% rye, and 4% malted barley; and (2) 60% corn, 36% rye, and 4% malted barley. With a rye content somewhere between 21% and 36%, this would generally be considered a 'high-rye' bourbon.
Remus Gatsby Reserve 2024
USA - Bourbon
MSRP: USD 230 (2024)
Available Price: USD 160 (2025, based on recent auction results)
Age Statement: 15 Years
Strength: 52.45% ABV
Details: Bottled 2024
Tasting Methodology: Reviewed 3 times over 3 months from a sample. Tasted in a nosing glass each time, rested 15+ minutes
Nose: A beautiful nose - sweet old oak, vanilla, lots of cola notes, almost Cherry Coke. Subtle dark fruit like cherry grows stronger, and we get a wisp of tobacco smoke; wood spice, brown sugar, lavender, and soft rye grain scents mingle in the background.
Palate: The mouthfeel has a medium thickness; strong oak notes like pepper, tannins, and wood oil show up at the start, followed by cherry cola, brown sugar, and charred orange peel. It's very well integrated and balanced; root beer, cream soda, and a bit of vanilla come next. We get a hint of sage and eucalyptus at the end.
Finish: Oak grows stronger - barbecued wood, tannins, leather and a bit of wood smoke. There's still some sweetness from caramel and vanilla; the aftertaste brings cotton, soft pepper, a bit more cola. It's a medium-long finish.
Final Note: The nose on this bourbon is a stunner, and the palate is quite good too, but it grows a bit more simple and mellow at that point. This has great balance overall, and while the oak notes are definitely strong with that long aging period, this doesn't seem overwhelmed by tannins or spice at any point. Lots of fruit and cola notes bring sweetness; overall, a very well-matured bourbon, even if the strength is a little bit lower than other barrel proof bourbons, which means that flavor delivery isn't quite as punchy.
This is one of the rare cases where the value when buying from the secondary market is actually better than buying it from an original retailer at MSRP, which is due to the secondary value being lower than the suggested retail price. If you can find this for $150 to $160, which seems to be the going price at auction, there's some decent value here.
Our Average Rating: 8.4 / 10
In the current whisky landscape of increasing prices and variable quality, we've added a value rating to our reviews that relates to the score and the available pricing of each whisky. This roughly equates to a 0-10 scale; no reviews so far have exceeded a score of 10, although it is technically possible for the formula to produce a value rating higher than 10 with a high enough score and low enough price.
Value Rating (MSRP): 5.49
Value Rating (Available Price): 6.20
About Us: We're a husband and wife review team living in the Midwest United States. Generally, our reviews and tasting notes will be a compilation of both of our experiences with a whisky over several tasting sessions.
Check out our other MGP-related reviews:
Review #632 - Sagamore Reserve Series 9 Year Rye
Review #574 - High West Double Rye
Review #493 - High West A Midwinter Nights Dram Act 11 Scene 7
Review #377 - Rossville Union Single Barrel Rye - Wiseguy Lounge Pick '95/5'
Review #345 - High West A Midwinter Nights Dram Act 9 Scene 4
Review #187 - Nulu Toasted Small Batch Bourbon
