Back in 2018, a curious pair of words cemented themselves into the Wild Turkey vernacular: Camp Nelson. While Wild Turkey had been aging whiskey in Jessamine County for many years, it wasn’t until those barrels hit the private-barrel program that the maturation campus received the credit it was due. Since that time, the words “Camp Nelson” have been associated with some of the finest whiskey Wild Turkey has crafted. And just this year, we saw the return of the revered CNF in the Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel selection pool, making it an ideal entry for the “12 Rickhouses of Turkey” series.
If you’re familiar with my blog, you know that I’ve covered Camp Nelson F bottlings numerous times. In fact, it wouldn’t surprise me if I’ve reviewed more CNF aged whiskey than whiskey from any other Wild Turkey rickhouse. Hell, I’d bank on it. But, there’s something very different about those reviews. Save for one, each of those bourbons were distilled in 2009 at the old Wild Turkey Distillery (formerly Ripy Brothers). The selection I’ve chosen to review today was distilled in 2014 at the new state-of-the-art distillery. Can today’s 4th-floor Camp Nelson F barrels measure up to the 5th- and 6th-floor CNF barrels of similar age from 2018-2019? There’s only one way to find out … let’s pour!
Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Proof: 110
Age: 8 years, 11 months
Misc.: Selected by East Ridge Cork & Bottle; barrel 23-0706, Camp Nelson F, 4th floor; distilled and bottled by the Wild Turkey Distilling Co., Lawrenceburg, KY
Tasted neat in a Glencairn after a few minutes rest …
Color: copper
Nose: nutty caramel, toffee, confectionery spice, charred oak, cherry pie, apple peel, faint clove
Taste: vanilla, cherry soda, woody spice, blood orange, tobacco, hints of herbal tea & licorice
Finish: medium-long w/ cola, oak char, molasses, cinnamon, spiced gumdrops, leather, pepper
Impression: When the last of those 2009-distilled Camp Nelson F Russell’s Reserve selections dried up, I thought it was the end of an era – a profile whiskey enthusiasts would never see again (save for Single Rickhouse CNF). I was wrong. While this 2023 eight-year-old CNF isn’t the same as those initial 5th- and 6th-floor barrels from 2018-2019, it’s close – arguably close enough. Granted, this East Ridge Cork & Bottle selection aged a floor lower, but even so it’s not lacking in Camp Nelson character. And the potential … just wait. I’ve got a feeling when these 2014-distilled CNF barrels reach another year or two of maturity, we’re in for some seriously impressive whiskey.
If you’re new to bourbon or Wild Turkey and missed out on those late-2010’s Camp Nelson single-barrel selections, there is hope. It all starts by finding a recent CNF Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon. Whether it’s East Ridge Cork & Bottle’s barrel 23-0706 or a private barrel from another store, you should be more than happy with your investment. And for those who’ve been into Wild Turkey for some time, you have a lot to look forward to. If you happen to find a 2023 CNF Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel, give it a try and let me know what you think. Maybe compare it to an old-school CNF selection. I think you’ll find that while not exactly the same, they have a great deal in common.
dj
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While Camp Nelson has produced some decent selections over the years, the best bourbon has resided in the Tyrone site inside of K warehouse. This is a little known fact outside of the distillery. I have personally collected many samples for the private selection process and know this first hand. The samples from Camp Nelson are good but none have come close to eight year barrels from K warehouse.
It’s all personal preference. Most of the modern sought-after releases have been Camp Nelson: 1998, 2002, 2003, MK BiB, SR CNC, SR CNF, Generations (with a very small portion of K in it). K is great, but it’s a wildcard from my experience.