For the third year running, two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Busch has put his name on something worth paying attention to outside of the racetrack. Rebel Bourbon, the official bourbon of Richard Childress Racing, has announced the release of Rebel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Single Barrel Selected By Kyle Busch — and this one comes with some serious credentials behind it.
The release is bottled at 108 proof, which works out to 54% ABV. That number is not random. It is a direct nod to the RCR sponsorship, tying the bottle to the racing partnership in a way that is more than just a marketing sticker. Busch, who drives the No. 8 Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing, did not just lend his name to this one. Working alongside Rebel Bourbon Master Distiller John Rempe, he personally selected every single barrel that went into this limited release. That kind of hands-on involvement is not always the case with celebrity-branded spirits, and it matters here.
The bourbon itself is built on Rebel's original wheated recipe, which dates all the way back to 1849 when it was first developed at the Stitzel-Weller distillery in Kentucky. Wheated bourbons swap out rye as the secondary grain and replace it with wheat, which generally produces a softer, smoother character than the spice-forward profiles you get with rye-heavy mash bills. Rebel has been following this same recipe for well over a century, and the Kyle Busch single barrel release is no different. It is aged for four full years, and the result according to the brand is a robust flavor with a smooth finish and a hint of spice working underneath it.
At a minimum suggested retail price of $39.99 for a 750mL bottle, this release sits in a sweet spot for a single barrel bourbon. Single barrel releases, by definition, mean that each bottle comes from one specific barrel rather than a blend of multiple. That makes every bottle slightly different from the next, and each label on this release actually includes the individual barrel number and fill date so buyers know exactly what they are getting. That kind of transparency is something serious bourbon drinkers tend to appreciate.
The bottle itself carries the signature Rebel Bourbon look, featuring the Lux Row Distillers embossing that longtime fans will recognize. What sets this one apart visually is the gold label dressed in a checkered flag pattern underneath heavy RCR branding, the No. 8 graphic, and Busch's actual signature. It is the kind of packaging that makes sense both as something to crack open and something to hold onto.
Busch has been clear about his enthusiasm for the collaboration. "For the third year now I'm proud to race with the Rebel brand, and having the opportunity to create another run of KB 108 with Rebel's John Rempe has been a total thrill," he said. "I'm proud to have my name and the No. 8 on every bottle and I think fans are really going to enjoy it."
From Rebel's side of things, brand manager Philip Lux described the fit between Busch and the brand as something that goes beyond a sponsorship deal. "Kyle and the RCR team stand out as real rebels, doing things their own way with a defiant attitude to drive to win, and that lifestyle is what Rebel Bourbon is all about," Lux said. "Every bottle of our new Rebel Single Barrel is a one-of-a-kind, made in tribute to that rebel spirit in Kyle and all of us."
The release is shipping this month and will be available nationwide, so it should not be hard to track down. Rebel's website includes a product locator for anyone who wants to find it at a specific retailer nearby.
For those who want more than just the bottle, Rebel Bourbon is planning a series of in-person bottle signings with both Busch and Rempe at key race markets throughout the 2026 NASCAR season. Busch will be behind the wheel of the No. 8 Rebel Bourbon Chevrolet at select Cup Series events this year, including the DuraMAX Grand Prix on March 1st in Austin, Texas. Race fans who are also bourbon drinkers will have a legitimate reason to show up early and get a bottle signed by the man who actually picked the barrels.
Rebel Bourbon is distilled in Bardstown, Kentucky, which is widely considered the bourbon capital of the world. The Lux Row Distillers facility there is where Master Distiller John Rempe operates, and his fingerprints are on everything the brand produces. Rebel has been collecting hardware lately on the awards circuit as well. The Rebel 10-Year Single Barrel took home Single Barrel American Whiskey of the Year at the 2025 Bartender Spirits Awards and also picked up a double platinum medal at the 2025 ASCOT Awards, a double gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, and a double gold plus Consumer's Choice Award at the 2025 SIP Awards. That kind of recognition across multiple independent competitions points to consistent quality coming out of that distillery.
Rebel sits under the Luxco umbrella, which has been part of MGP Ingredients since 2021. Luxco runs an extensive portfolio out of four different distilleries across Kentucky, Indiana, and Mexico, covering everything from Ezra Brooks and Blood Oath bourbons to Yellowstone and a range of agave-based tequilas. But Rebel has carved out its own identity built around the wheated mash bill and the attitude that goes along with the name.
Richard Childress Racing has its own long history worth knowing about for anyone who follows the sport. The organization was founded in 1969 and has racked up more than 200 victories and 17 championships over its existence. Six of those championships came in the NASCAR Cup Series with Dale Earnhardt behind the wheel. RCR also won the Daytona 500 three separate times, in 1998, 2007, and 2018. The 2026 Cup Series lineup includes Busch in the No. 8 car alongside Austin Dillon in the No. 3 Chevrolet.
The KB 108 Single Barrel is the kind of release that checks boxes for bourbon drinkers who care about what is in the glass and for racing fans who want something tangible to connect with a team and driver they follow. The wheated profile makes it approachable, the proof gives it some backbone, and the four years of aging rounds out any rough edges. At that price point, it is easy to justify picking up a bottle — or two, if you want one to drink and one to keep.
Anyone looking to stay up on future events and releases can follow Rebel Bourbon on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok at the handle rebelbourbon, and keep tabs on the racing side through RCR's own social channels. The full schedule of bottle signings is expected to be announced as the NASCAR season gets rolling. Given how quickly limited single barrel releases can disappear from shelves, tracking down this one sooner rather than later is probably the smarter move.
