One of the very best bourbons of 2025, and one that received one of our highest Taste Test scores of the year, was Redemption 18-Year-Old. Well, we have some good news—that whiskey has returned for 2026, albeit in pretty limited numbers, along with an excellent bottled-in-bond expression from the brand, and we have the details to share.
As we reported last year, this is not the oldest expression that Redemption has ever released, but it’s the best one to date (the oldest honor goes to a 36-year-old bourbon that came out in 2017 which was… let’s just say a bit hard to drink). Redemption was founded in 2010 with a focus on rye whiskey sourced from MGP in Indiana, but over the years it has moved into bourbon and different types of cask finishes. Redemption was acquired by Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits in 2015, and Alan Kennedy became master blender in 2023.
Last year’s 18-Year-Old Bourbon was a blend of two of Redemption’s bourbon mashbills: 75 percent corn, 21 percent rye, and four percent barley; and high-rye bourbon made from a mashbill of 60 percent corn, 36 percent rye, and four percent barley. The final blend came from just 69 barrels and was bottled at 103.4 proof. This year’s 18-Year-Old release was made from a mashbill of 74 percent corn, 22 percent rye, and four percent malted barley, and bottled at barrel proof of 102.85. We did not get to sample this year’s release yet, but the official tasting notes list cherry jam, cinnamon, vanilla, sweet corn, and leather on the palate, with a long oaky finish. Redemption 18 will be available this fall for a suggested retail price of $400.
