Introduction
At Film & Whiskey, we've long been fans of the Rebel brand. Their affordable yet surprisingly good Rebel 100 Bourbon has been a go-to recommendation for us. So when we got our hands on Rebel 100 Straight Rye Whiskey, we had high hopes. This rye comes in at a wallet-friendly price—$22 in Kentucky and Ohio—and boasts a 51% rye mash bill, rounded out by 45% corn and 4% malted barley. Aged for just 24 months, this rye is young, but how does it stack up in flavor and complexity? Let's dive in and see if Rebel 100 Rye delivers the same bang for the buck as its bourbon counterpart.
This review is taken from our episode "Transformers / Rebel 100 Rye." Click the link to listen to this episode in audio format.
Nose
Brad: "This is a nice nose, but it just comes across as young. I get some breakfast tea, vanilla, and a lot of ethanol. It’s decent, but not super compelling."
Bob: "There’s definitely a lot of ethanol here. But once you push through that, the next note I pick up is corn sweetness—almost like Karo syrup. After that, I get some young rye. But this nose is pretty hot with alcohol, and you can tell it’s not been aged long."
As we dug into the nose, it was clear that the youth of this whiskey was hard to miss. For a 24-month-aged rye, there wasn’t a lot of depth, and the rye didn’t dominate the way it can in more mature expressions. Overall, it was serviceable, but the alcohol notes were strong and difficult to ignore.
- Bob's score: 5.5/10
- Brad's score: 6/10
Taste
Brad: "The flavors here are right, but they’re a little lacking. I pick up mint and dill, but also something kind of odd. There’s this flavor that reminds me of a Sour Patch Kid, but without the sugar. I also get a toasted bread with honey vibe."
Bob: "It tastes like a very inexpensive, young bourbon. There’s a lot of sweetness here, and while you do get some rye notes, they could easily be mistaken for herbal bourbon notes. It’s just not delivering the rye experience I was hoping for."
We both agreed that the taste offered more sweetness than rye spice, likely due to the 45% corn in the mash bill. The typical rye notes—mint, dill, spice—were there but dialed back, making it feel more like a young bourbon than a true rye. The youth of the whiskey showed through again here, with a touch of sourness that was noticeable but not overwhelming. While not terrible, it certainly wasn’t anything to get too excited about.
- Bob's score: 6/10
- Brad's score: 6.5/10
Finish
Brad: "The finish is short and inoffensive. You get a little bit of mint that sticks around, which is pleasant. But there’s nothing here that’s blowing me away."
Bob: "I’m with you—it’s not much to talk about, but it’s fine. I think I’m being generous when I give it a 6, but it’s hard to hate it when it’s this inoffensive."
The finish followed suit with the rest of the whiskey: simple, short, and sweet. The mint flavor lingered a bit, offering a nice cooling effect, but there wasn’t much else happening. For a whiskey at this price point, we weren’t expecting fireworks, but the finish was just too brief to leave any lasting impression.
- Bob's score: 6/10
- Brad's score: 6/10
Balance
Bob: "This whiskey feels like a 6 across the board. It’s balanced in the sense that nothing is outright terrible, but nothing is really shining either. It’s disappointing, honestly. I was really looking forward to this one."
Brad: "Yeah, I think balance-wise, they did okay with what they had to work with. The components don’t clash, but nothing stands out. It’s an alright balance. I’ll give it a 7."
Balance is always a tricky category because we’re looking at how well the nose, palate, and finish complement each other. In the case of Rebel 100 Rye, everything was balanced in the sense that no one element overwhelmed the others, but that’s not necessarily a good thing. The whiskey played it too safe, leaving us with a drink that was steady but unremarkable.
- Bob's score: 6/10
- Brad's score: 7/10
Value
Bob: "At $22, it’s hard to argue with the value. There’s really not much you can find for cheaper, especially in the rye category. I’ll give it a 7, mostly because of the price."
Brad: "Yeah, I think $22 is cheap, and for someone looking to dip their toes into rye, this is fine. But if you’re willing to spend just a little more, you’ll get a much better rye experience. I’d go for something like Rye and Sons from our friend André Mack for around $30. That said, for what it is, Rebel 100 Rye is a decent value."
At $22, Rebel 100 Rye is priced incredibly low, and while it didn’t blow us away, it’s hard to knock a whiskey at this price point. The value lies in the fact that you’re getting a budget-friendly rye that’s serviceable, especially as a mixer. If you’re looking to get into rye without spending too much, this might be a good starting point. However, spending a few more dollars could get you something significantly better.
- Bob's score: 7/10
- Brad's score: 7/10
Final Scores
- Bob's total score: 30.5/50
- Brad's total score: 32.5/50
Conclusion
Rebel 100 Straight Rye Whiskey finishes with a combined score of 31.5/50, making it a decent budget option but far from a standout rye. It’s young, sweet, and offers just a hint of the rye characteristics that make the style so appealing. At $22, it’s hard to complain, and it works well enough as a mixer, but if you’re looking for a more complex rye experience, you might want to look elsewhere.
For context, we typically recommend trying a whiskey at a bar or buying a bottle when it hits around 35/50. A score of 40/50 is considered great, and 45/50 is excellent. Rebel 100 Rye doesn’t quite hit the 35 mark, so we’d suggest trying it as a mixer or for a casual pour, but it’s not something we’d go out of our way to recommend as a sipping rye.
That said, if you’re building a home bar on a budget or just want to explore rye without breaking the bank, Rebel 100 Rye could be a solid addition to your lineup.
Cheers!
