Have you ever stopped to think about the sea of rye whiskey options out there?  From big names to small craft, non-age-stated to mature, even single-barrel selections at barrel strength, the choices are diverse and impressive.  But it wasn’t always this way.  Just a few years back there was at best a third of the various rye expressions you’ll find available in stores today.  Now retailers have more than a single rye shelf – they have dedicated rye sections. This all seems very normal in 2018, but just a short time ago very few folks saw this coming.  Jimmy Russell has stated rye is a fad. He could be right – he made it through the Glut Era, after all. But for now rye is more than casually trending – it’s effortlessly booming.

If you’re looking for evidence in rye whiskey’s surge in popularity, it can easily be found in Wild Turkey.  For over 50 years there was a single, lone Wild Turkey rye offering, 101 Rye. Originally sourced from Maryland, and later Pennsylvania, Wild Turkey rye as we know it, Jimmy’s Kentucky straight rye, began in the 1970’s.  It wasn’t until 2007 that another Wild Turkey rye expression hit the market, Russell’s Reserve 6-year Rye.  Just a few years later in 2012, Wild Turkey Straight Rye (81 proof) was released, while WT 101 Rye was temporarily allocated due to high demand.  Two batches of Forgiven, a straight bourbon and rye blend I reviewed recently, followed shortly after in 2013. And finally, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Rye started lining retail shelves in 2015.

I think it goes without saying that I’m a huge Wild Turkey rye fan.  And out of all the rye choices we now have, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Rye is arguably the best of the bunch.  Even in comparison to the revered dusty 101 “Christmas Rye,” Russell’s SiB Rye is hard to beat. And this may just be the beginning.  As you can see from the past 11 years, Wild Turkey’s rye portfolio has grown substantially.  And with the recent announcement of Bruce Russell moving from Brand Ambassador to a formal apprenticeship under Jimmy and Eddie, I predict great things to come for Wild Turkey rye.  Bruce is an admitted rye enthusiast, and while I’m sure he’ll keep bourbon his top priority as he grows in influence, it’s hard to keep folks away from their true interests.

Speaking of true interests, there’s few things I love more than a single barrel whiskey (I’m looking at you, Blake 😉 ).  When it comes to Wild Turkey rye whiskey, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Rye is your only single-barrel option. It’s not the easiest expression to find, but can be obtained with some diligent searching.  What’s much tougher to find are private selections of Russell’s SiB Rye, as very few have been completed due to low supply.  Last year I had the pleasure of reviewing a selection from the Loch & Key Whisk(e)y Society.  It was an excellent and enjoyable pour – very true to the standard Russell’s SiB Rye profile.  But truth be told, I was hoping for something a little more unique.

As luck would have it, right as I’d sat down to work on what I thought would be a review of a 2017 Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Rye I purchased last November, a generous fellow Turkey fan provided me the opportunity to try another Russell’s SiB Rye private barrel selection.  This barrel pick comes from the fine folks at Liquor Barn in Louisville, KY.  I’ve decided that since I have a sentimental connection with the 2017 retail bottle (I picked it up at a meet & greet with Jimmy and Eddie Russell), I’d taste it blind against the Liquor Barn selection to remove potential bias.  This should be a fun and exciting comparison.

Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Rye (blind comparison) – 104-proof, non-chill filtered Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey – no age stated – distilled and bottled by the Wild Turkey Distilling Co., Lawrenceburg, KY

Sample A

Tasted neat in a Glencairn after a few minutes rest …

Color:  rich amber

Nose:  (typical on-profile RRSiB Rye) lemon zest, vanilla frosting, herbal tea, spicy oak, orange peel, ginger, sweet basil & mint

Taste:  (creamy & well-balanced) herbal tea w/ honey & lemon, vanilla-frosted sugar cookies, orange peel, sweet musty oak, pastry crust, lemon-lime soda, peppery spice

Finish:  medium-long with pleasant warmth – vanilla, oak, pepper, lemon zest, mint

Overall:  Based on the nose, there’s little here that shouts unique or plays outside the typical Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Rye experience.  It’s high quality, but that’s par for course when it comes to Russell’s SiB Rye.  By the time this whiskey hits the palate, however, things really take a turn towards exceptional.  It’s creamy, flavorful, and ideally balanced between sweet and spicy.  The finish settles back down to a more typical representation of profile (if only it maintained the duration of notes on the finish).  Still, all things considered (especially the taste) this is an excellent pour.

Guess:  2016 Liquor Barn Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Rye (4-E-2)

Rating:  4/5 🦃

Sample B

Tasted neat in a Glencairn after a few minutes rest …

Color:  rich amber

Nose:  (“rye in a bakery”) herbal tea w/ honey, orange peel, lemon squares, cake frosting, caramel drizzle, sugar cookies, floral perfume, ginger, mint & pepper

Taste:  (typical on-profile RRSiB Rye) spicy vanilla, sweet musty oak, sugar cookies, lemon zest, ginger, mint, hints of orange peel

Finish:  notably long & spicy – pepper-forward, vanilla, musty oak, lemon/orange peel, hints of leather & mint

Overall:  Right from the start the nose on this one shines.  I wouldn’t call it off-profile, but it certainly has complexity over Sample A.  Unfortunately, the palate is a slight step down from the nose.  It’s damn tasty (much like it should be) but the “rye in a bakery” vibe has undoubtedly mellowed out.  Wait – let’s not use the words “mellowed out” just yet.  Wow … hello, this finish is a pepper bomb!  Long and spicy with some additional citrus and leather to boot.

At this point I’m having a tough time deciding which sample is which.  I’ve had the 2017 Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Rye prior to this tasting and recall it being my personal favorite to date.  The nose on this one has me leaning that direction, so that’s what I’ll go with.

Guess:  2017 Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Rye

Rating:  4/5 🦃

And now, time for the reveal …

Sample A

Guess:  2016 Liquor Barn Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Rye (4-E-2)

Reveal:  2017 Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Rye

Sample B

Guess:  2017 Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Rye

Reveal:  2016 Liquor Barn Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Rye (4-E-2)

I should’ve known the peppery finish on Sample B was something different!  This is precisely why I love blind tastings.  They force you to approach each and every whiskey without bias.  And even if you own and have tasted on multiple occasions a whiskey being sampled, you’re not immune to being fooled.  Now, if you’re comparing whiskeys of different labels, proofs, etc., your chance of accuracy is higher.  But for single barrels of the same label, it’s much tougher making spot-on guesses blind.  It’s a sensory mind game in the best way possible.

In closing, I thoroughly enjoyed this comparison tasting.  Thanks again to my fellow Turkey associate for making this side-by-side possible.  As for how these two Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Rye whiskeys measure up to one another, they’re each excellent pours in their own way.  The 2017 retail bottle has the nose and finish you’d expect, but its taste is a surefire cut above.  The 2016 Liquor Barn pick from 4-E-2 has a complex nose and a powerful finish – one I’d say makes it a touch more unique and desirable if you like peppery spice.  I’ve rated them similarly, but based on my own preferences I’m giving the edge to the Liquor Barn barrel select.  Here’s to more Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Rye selections in the very near future! Cheers!