Redemption “The Ancients Collection”18 Year Old Bourbon Review

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Redemption Whiskey was one of the original Non-Distiller Producers who rose to fame in the mid 2010’s while riding a wave of aged bourbon and rye whiskey barrels from MGP.  The only reason why they aren’t talked about in the same conversation with brands like Belle Meade, Smooth Ambler, Smoke Wagon and Blaum Bros is because they never fully embraced the concept of single barrel picks.  Redemption’s packaging was somewhat uninspired in the early days – they used bottles similar in shape to Stagg Jr and Russell’s Reserve. Then came their pièce de résistance – the bottle shape you see in front of you for this review.

Most enthusiasts will remember back in 2017 that this strange rectangular bottle was released under Redemption’s “Ancients” Collection.  There was an incredible 18-year-old Rye Whiskey (which I reviewed here) and an extremely limited 36-year-old bourbon. Interestingly, there could have been a 33-year-old rye whiskey included in the Ancients Collection, but Dave Schmier (Redemption’s founder) told me that he ended up selling that barrel to a private whiskey club because it was incredibly over-oaked. He said he used the money to buy many more young barrels to secure the future of the brand.

Redemption 18 Year Old Bourbon

When I first saw pictures of this release this year, I did a double take to make sure I wasn’t looking at a picture of the rye whiskey from 2017. Nope, it was a bourbon, and it was new. I quickly dug into the stats to find out that the blend was made from both high and low-rye bourbon mash bills (LBSV and LESV, respectively) that were distilled in 2006. 2006 is a legendary year in the eyes of many MGP enthusiasts because so many of the barrels that ended up in the hands of trailblazing non-distiller producers (NDPs) were considered some of the best bourbon and rye whiskey available at that time. Modern releases still don’t seem to hold a candle to barrels produced in that year.

This should be good news to those who might be on the fence about purchasing this bottle (not like they’re widely available). In my eyes, it’s a no-brainer to hunt one down or find a pour of one because the heritage is all there.

What’s that you’re asking? Why is MGP bourbon from 2006 so much better than stuff made over the last 10 to 15 years? It’s hard to quantify, but the real ones talk about this phenomenon often. It’s strange because all of MGP’s recipes, equipment and aging warehouses remain relatively the same. Granted, some of the personnel have switched out (like Master Distiller and Godfather of Rye Larry Ebersold) and over half of MGP’s stocks are resting in palletized metal warehouses instead of their tightly-sealed brick ones, but the processes generally remain the same.

A Redemption Resurgence?

Shortly after Dave Schmier sold the company to the Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits company, the quality of Redemption products seemed to go down. Well, that might be a harsh take, but the offerings certainly got younger. There were large gaps between their standard bottlings (4 to 5 years old) and the classic “kidney shaped” bottles of 9 or 10-year bourbon and rye. Everything was good, but not noteworthy.

A lot of time has passed and stocks that were once tucked away are seeing the light of day. There seems to be a resurgence in age statements and quality. Producers know that regular shelf bottles aren’t igniting budding enthusiasts’ passion anymore. Premiumization is a thing now more than ever. Is Redemption 18 Bourbon their way of telling us they’re ready to take on the big guys again? There’s only one way to find out. Thanks to my friend Mike from Mostly Peaceful Bourbon, I’m getting my chance today. I sampled this neat in a glencairn.

Tasting Notes

Nose: The name “The Ancient Collection” is certainly apt here because the wood smells ancient. There’s a musty, sort of varnished wood scent that really represents the 18 years that this spent in a barrel. I can also find scents of chocolate and pipe tobacco – both tannic notes that add a lot of heft. Sweeter notes of spiced honey, Bit-O-Honey candy and caramel keep things balanced. I even find those really exquisite notes like fresh brewed black tea. Cinnamon adds dimension while pralines gives it a slightly nutty sensation.

Palate: Rich mouthfeel with loads of tannins (cigar box and wood varnish) and a surprising amount of sweetness. Oxidized cherries (as opposed to the fresh, bright kind or the syrupy sweet kind) lend an interesting fruit note that would be impossible if it wasn’t for the age. I’m really enjoying this Tootsie Roll note that seems to be encompasing the chocolate and caramel notes from the nose. I get a big hit of baking spices like cinnamon, allspice, anise and a hint of clove. Finally, I seem to be picking up on a bit of candied citrus (lemon?) peel that gives me another notch to add in my “fruit flavors” running tally. Nice.

Finish: The end of the sip sees a mouthful of flavors lasting decently long on my tongue with good spice and tannins throughout. The whole sensation feels like a top-tier bourbon because everything stays in balance with no excessive drying due to the oak and tannins and a lot of the supporting cast of flavors still able to be found. I’m impressed.

Score: 8.9/10

I was unsure of what to expect before getting into this, but Redemption’s 18 year bourbon delivered in a big way. It was much more complex and layered than many of the elite 12-14 year old MGP bourbons I’ve had. It was such a treat from start to finish.

I would’ve bet money that with 18 years in a barrel, I wouldn’t have been able to find any fruit notes inside my glass, but I was wrong. I was even surprised how well the sweetness was still preserved. At this point in a barrel’s life, all bright notes and fruit have been covered up by tannins.

Redemption has once again struck gold by creating another whiskey to join the ranks of all-time-greats from MGP. While it might not have received a perfect 10 like the rye whiskey did many years ago, it is about as good as a bourbon is going to get from MGP. The master blender should be proud of his work. This is one that many people are going to want to treasure for the foreseeable future.