Disclosure: the sample for this review was provided at no cost. Our tasting notes and score are our own.
A little background
Remus Lou Gehrig Reserve is a limited-edition bourbon from Remus Bourbon, produced at MGP’s Ross & Squibb Distillery in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, and crafted by Master Distiller Ian Stirsman. The 2026 release honors New York Yankees first baseman Lou Gehrig, the “Iron Horse,” and follows the brand’s Remus Babe Ruth Reserve releases of 2024 and 2025. It is bottled at 109 proof (54.5% ABV) and carries a suggested retail price of $129.99 per 750mL bottle. The bourbon is a blend of four mash bills: 14% 2016 bourbon (52% corn, 44% rye, 4% malted barley), 70% 2017 bourbon (51% corn, 49% rye), 8% 2019 bourbon (99% corn, 1% malted barley), and 8% 2019 bourbon (60% corn, 36% rye, 4% malted barley).
Nearly every detail is a nod to Gehrig’s career. The four mash bills honor his No. 4 jersey, the 109 proof marks the 100th anniversary of his 109 RBI season in 1926 (the first of 13 consecutive seasons with 100 or more RBIs), and only 9,665 bottles were produced, one for each of his career plate appearances. A QR code on the back label lets owners look up what Gehrig did in the plate appearance matching their bottle number, and the bottle features an embossed baseball diamond-shaped label and a baseball bat knob closure. Remus Bourbon is donating $9,665 to the Live Like Lou Foundation, which funds ALS research and supports families affected by the disease. The bottle reviewed here is No. 4,575 of 9,665.
(Tasted neat from a Glencairn Glass)
Color
Golden Copper
Nose
Caramel, brown sugar, vanilla, leather, baking spice (cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove), and oak.
Palate
Caramel, brown sugar, honey, baking spice, leather, and oak.
Finish
Cinnamon, pepper, leather, pipe tobacco, caramel, baking spice, and oak.
In closing
Remus Lou Gehrig Reserve delivers classic bourbon notes from start to finish, a well-crafted high-rye blend from MGP’s Ross & Squibb Distillery. Caramel, brown sugar, and vanilla lead the nose, joined by leather, oak, and baking spice in the form of cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove. The palate follows suit with caramel, brown sugar, and honey up front before baking spice, leather, and oak take over. The medium-long finish brings cinnamon and pepper, then settles into leather, pipe tobacco, caramel, baking spice, and oak. At 109 proof, it is full-flavored without being overpowering, and the four mash bills come together into a cohesive, familiar profile that bourbon fans will appreciate.
At $130, this bottle is about more than what is in the glass. The presentation is beautiful, with an embossed baseball diamond-shaped label, a baseball bat knob closure, and individually numbered bottles tied to each of Gehrig’s career plate appearances. More importantly, it supports a great cause, with Remus Bourbon donating to the Live Like Lou Foundation to fund ALS research and support families affected by the disease. The charitable cause justifies the price, and for Yankees fans, baseball collectors, and anyone who picked up the Remus Babe Ruth Reserve, Remus Lou Gehrig Reserve is an easy recommendation that tastes as good as it looks on the shelf.
NOTE: The sample used for this review was provided at no cost courtesy of Remus Bourbon. We thank them for the sample and for allowing us to review it with no strings attached.
Remus Bourbon Lou Gehrig Reserve
109 Proof
Please enjoy responsibly. Never drink and drive.
