Rebel traces its history back to 1936, when it was first introduced by by the Stitzel-Weller Distillery in Louisville, Kentucky.
Rebel Bourbon was previously known as Rebel Yell, until a brand refresh quietly took place in 2020. Rebel Yell was named after the Confederate battle cry during the American Civil War. The brand has since changed ownership multiple times and is currently produced by Luxco, a spirits company based in St. Louis, Missouri.
Billy Idol’s song of the same name came from a night of drinking the brand’s whiskey with Keith Richards, Mick Jagger, and Ronnie Wood of the Rolling Stones1Partying with The Rolling Stones Inspired Billy Idol’s “Rebel Yell”.
