Russell’s Reserve is a super-premium Wild Turkey product line of which there are four core whiskey expressions: Russell’s Reserve 6 Year Old Rye, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Rye, Russell’s Reserve 10 Year Old Bourbon, and Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon. I recently picked up this single-barrel bourbon release from a local store I visit semi-frequently. It’s the most recent Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel label, with a bottle stamp of 2015 and priced at about $55. And that’s that. On with the review!
Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon – 110 proof, non-chill filtered KSBW – no age statement (rumored at least eight years) – distilled and bottled by the Wild Turkey Distilling Co., Lawrenceburg, KY
Tasted neat in a Glencairn after a few minutes rest …
Color: rich amber
Nose: BIG vanilla, caramel, Werther’s Original candies, honey, maple, rich oak, hints of ginger & clove
Taste: thick & rich vanilla, old fashioned caramel chews, maple syrup, baking spice, faint floral notes & ripe citrus
Finish: full, warm & long – waves of vanilla, maple & diminishing oak
Overall: Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel is possibly the best full-flavored, single-barrel Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey at over 101 proof on the market today. Sure, there are plenty of options at or under 101 proof, but above that threshold there are very few that can compete at Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel’s suggested retail price. Now, take private selections into consideration and you thin the herd even more (but that’s another talk for another day).
Needless to say, I’m quite impressed with this particular bottle. It’s not a private selection – it’s the standard retail offering. It seems a bit richer than previous Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel releases I’ve tasted, and a notch above most core Wild Turkey products (save for the occasional choice Kentucky Spirit one sometimes finds). The bottom line is this: If you haven’t tried Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon, you’re missing out.
Rating: 4/5 🦃