After a year-long hiatus, 2020 welcomed the return of Tyrone-aged Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel private selections, this time from rickhouses A, B, E, G, and S. As phenomenal as many of the 2019 Camp Nelson selections were (especially those crazy CNF picks), increased variety is nary an unpopular change.
I’m frequently asked which rickhouse is best. Of course, there’s no simple “best” Wild Turkey rickhouse for aging whiskey. It’s all driven by the unpredictability of Mother Nature and the vast subjectivity of personal preference. One year, rickhouse B might produce extraordinary bourbon, the next, maybe K or M. It’s virtually impossible to nail down definitive profiles for these rickhouses and their relative floors. Believe me, I’ve tried. However, nailing down general profiles for bourbon distilled and bottled at similar times among different rickhouses … that’s something worth exploring.
Today, I’m going to try something new. I’ll be sharing tasting notes from all five Tyrone rickhouses for which selections were available in 2020. The goal is fairly straightforward – to provide you, the reader, with a general idea of each profile. A snapshot, if you will. With that said, it’s important to remember that these are single-barrel bourbons, and as such, may (and likely will) differ from other barrels of each respective location. As with any whiskey comparison, it’s imperfect and wholly unscientific. But that doesn’t mean it’s invaluable. Just take my notes and commentary with a grain of salt. Some disagreement is expected, and I welcome your thoughts and opinions.
Before getting started, I should mention that my Patreon supporters will find these notes familiar. With each new Wild Turkey bottle I open, I immediately share my initial thoughts with my patrons. The notes below were lifted from these first-pour posts; however, these five bourbons were tasted again on various occasions, as well as side by side specifically for this article. As a result, notes were amended when necessary.
Tyrone A
Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon (barrel #20-0077, rickhouse A, floor 4) – selected by Carmen Defalco and John Jurkovic for Bub City, Chicago, IL – 110-proof, non-chill filtered KSBW – aged nine years – distilled and bottled by the Wild Turkey Distilling Co., Lawrenceburg, KY
Tasted neat in a Glencairn …
Tasting notes: nutty toffee, Apple Jacks, toasted caramel, zesty oak, nutmeg; apple-butter, confectioners sugar, cinnamon; medium-long finish w/ fruity vanilla spice, “tingly” herbal tea, hints of clove & pepper
Impression: A well-balanced, quintessentially “on-profile” Wild Turkey.
Tyrone B
Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon “Turkey Juice” (barrel #20-0419, rickhouse B, floor 4) – selected by the Dallas Bourbon Club for Lakewood Medallion – 110-proof, non-chill filtered KSBW – aged eight years, seven months – distilled and bottled by the Wild Turkey Distilling Co., Lawrenceburg, KY
Tasted neat in a Glencairn …
Tasting notes: nutty candy bar, warm vanilla pudding, cookie dough, brown sugar, nutmeg; salted caramel, butter toffee, molasses; medium-long finish w/ burnt sugar, vanilla extract, charred oak, cinnamon/peppery spice
Impression: A candy bar and cookie dough lover’s delight.
Tyrone E
Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon (barrel #20-0021, rickhouse E, floor 4) – selected by Martin Wine Cellar, New Orleans, LA – 110-proof, non-chill filtered KSBW – aged nine years – distilled and bottled by the Wild Turkey Distilling Co., Lawrenceburg, KY
Tasted neat in a Glencairn …
Tasting notes: Dickel-esque super-fruity-mineral funk, tangy citrus, Fruit Loops cereal, salted caramel; Vanilla Tootsie Roll, zesty oak, Twizzler candy, boozy orange peel; medium-long finish w/ Red Zinger tea, sweet minerals, Fruit Stripe gum, spiked cream soda
Impression: A genuine rare bird – funky and tangy with a tasty Dickel-esque vibe.
Tyrone G
Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon, “The Vaccine” (barrel #20-0196, rickhouse G, floor 4) – selected by the Columbia Bourbon Collective, Columbia, SC – 110-proof, non-chill filtered KSBW – aged eight years, seven months – distilled and bottled by the Wild Turkey Distilling Co., Lawrenceburg, KY
Tasted neat in a Glencairn …
Tasting notes: cherry cordials, chocolate orange, fruity vanilla, herbal spice, citrus, faint mint; grape-orange soda, nutty caramel-toffee, nutmeg; medium-long finish w/ burnt sugar, singed orange peel, vibrant oak, hints of cinnamon
Impression: A nice “core-Turkey” profile situated between fruity and bakery-esque.
Tyrone S
Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon (barrel #20-0821, rickhouse S, floor 5) – selected by Barrels United for Pop’s Wine & Spirits – 110-proof, non-chill filtered KSBW – aged eight years, eleven months – distilled and bottled by the Wild Turkey Distilling Co., Lawrenceburg, KY
Tasted neat in a Glencairn …
Tasting notes: zesty maple, sweet potpourri, cedar-esque oak, enticing woody/holiday spice; toasted caramel, brown sugar, sweet & savory herbs; medium long finish w/ waves of smoky orange peel, burnt honey, cinnamon, clove
Impression: Unique and flavorful with distinctively fragrant woody/herbal spice.
As you can see from my notes and impressions above, each bourbon has its own distinct character, though some more notable and unique than others. All are excellent, with a ballpark rating on my Turkey Scale of 4/5 (give or take). The sole exception is Martin Wine Cellar’s selection from rickhouse E. That Russell’s Reserve ranks a rock solid 4.25/5. Unfortunately, the Dickel-esque fruity mineral vibe will likely throw many enthusiasts for a (fruit) loop. But for me, a standout profile is typically worthy of adoration and praise. It’s a whiskey worth seeking out and experiencing, not a whiskey deserving of prejudice or assumptions.
So where does this leave us? If searching for a Tyrone-aged Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel private selection, which rickhouse should you pursue? Why, all of them. 🙂 But seriously, I’m not saying you need to purchase five (or more) bottles. Look to your whiskey community – your bourbon friends – and try to gather samples of each. Taste and find what works best for you. If, however, you don’t have that luxury, then hopefully my notes above will be of some assistance. Just remember – this hobby is entirely subjective. True experts are few and far between (I sure as hell ain’t one of them), but no expert knows what’s best for you and your palate. Be vigilant in your journey, yet open-minded all the same. And no matter what – never take a single review or individual’s tasting notes as a gospel truth. The definitive quality of any whiskey depends on you.
dj
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Great article as always! Do you happen to have a listing of all warehouses used for RR? Trying to get a bottle from each. Thanks!
Thank you! Don’t have a list but since 2014 or so it’s been Tyrone A, B, D, E, G, H, K, M, N, O, S, T, W and Camp Nelson A, C, D, and F.
How can you tell whether It’s Tyrone versus Camp Nelson?
That’s the trick. No easy way. If A or F from 2019, Camp Nelson. If F 2018-2020, Camp Nelson. If A with a barrel number prefix of 19-, Camp Nelson. If A with a barrel number prefix of 20-, could be either and refer to the vendor.