Rare Bird 101

Wild Turkey Bourbon Whiskey Info, Reviews, and Musings

Russell’s Renegades

Russell's Renegades

It should go without saying – choosing a barrel of fine whiskey fares best as a team effort. At the very least you’re sipping alongside a master distiller, like Eddie Russell, or perhaps a sample a producer has earmarked. But more often than not there are multiple talented and opinionated individuals involved in the process. Such is the case with Rare Bird 101 private barrel selections.

As of September 2020, Rare Bird 101 selections will be facilitated through nationally recognized licensed retailers. Access to these barrels, as well as the opportunity to join future selection teams, are benefits reserved for my Patreon supporters, or “Russell’s Renegades.” It’s not a bourbon club in the conventional sense, but rather a group of like-minded individuals passionate about Wild Turkey and American whiskey in general. As such, the barrels we select are a reflection of our community.

If you’re interested in Russell’s Renegades and our zeal for all things Turkey, please check out my Patreon site or shoot me an email and I’ll be happy to answer any questions you might have. As for past, present, and upcoming barrel selections, please see the following chart for reference.

Wild Turkey Barrel Selections

Selection DateNameExpressionBarrel, LocationReleased (yes/no)
2018
September 5, 2018One & A CenturyRussell’s Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon18-0643 CNF 5 Y
2019
May 6, 2019Promise to Mr. PorkChopRussell’s Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon18-0573 CNF 6Y
May 6, 2019Russell the MuscleRussell’s Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon18-0567 CNF 6Y
May 6, 2019Swan Song: A Barrel to RememberRussell’s Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon19-0074 CNA 4Y
August 14, 2019Fast Eddie: No Ice, No GlassRussell’s Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon19-0538 CNF 6Y
2020
April 14, 2020Russell’s Renegades #404Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon20-0404 TYB 4Y
April 14, 2020Russell’s Renegades #183Wild Turkey Kentucky Spirit20-0183 TYE 4Y
September 8, 2020Rare Bird 101 & JHOB “PayDay”Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon20-0689 TYG 4Y
September 8, 2020Rare Bird 101 & JHOB “Granny’s Spice Rack”Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon20-0884 TYS 5Y
2021
March 18, 2021Rare Bird 101 & KNB “Canada Dry”Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon21-0315 CNA 4Y
March 18, 2021Rare Bird 101 & KNB “Old Jim”Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon21-0024 MCB 4Y
March 18, 2021Rare Bird 101 & KNB “Old Spendthrift”Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon21-0508 TYF 4Y
March 18, 2021Rare Bird 101 & KNB “Anderson Club”Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon21-0586 TYF 4Y
2022
March 16, 2022“Lawrenceburg & Loretto” Russell’s Renegades and JHOBRussell’s Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon20-0176 TYE 4Y
March 16, 2022Rare Bird 101 5th Anniversary – Russell’s Renegades and JHOBRussell’s Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon22-2163 TYT 4Y
March 16, 2022“Kentucky’s Finest” Russell’s Renegades and JHOBWild Turkey Kentucky Spirit21-0268 TYK 4Y
June 1, 2022Bourbon Community CollaborationRussell’s Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon22-2153 TYB 4Y
June 1, 2022“Hindsight is 101 Proof” Russell’s Renegades and KNBWild Turkey Kentucky Spirit22-0306 CNA 4Y
June 1, 2022“Rack Cat” Russell’s Renegades and KNBWild Turkey Kentucky Spirit22-0290 CNA 4Y
June 1, 2022“Corner Barrel” Russell’s Renegades and KNBRussell’s Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon22-2148 TYA 4Y
June 1, 2022“TUX” Russell’s Renegades and KNBWild Turkey Kentucky Spirit22-0300 CNA 4Y
September 30, 2022Russell’s Renegades and JHOBRussell’s Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon22-0817 TYF 4N
September 30, 2022Russell’s Renegades and JHOBRussell’s Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon22-0859 CNB 5N
2023
March 30, 2023POACKSBWCNBN
March 30, 2023POACKSBWTYMN
July 19, 2023Russell’s RenegadesKSBWTBDN
July 19, 2023Russell’s RenegadesKSBWTBDN
July 19, 2023Russell’s RenegadesKSBWTBDN
July 19, 2023Russell’s RenegadesKSBWTBDN
October 18, 2023Russell’s RenegadesKSBWTBDN

Non Wild Turkey Barrel/Cask Selections

Selection DateNameExpressionBarrel/Cask InfoReleased (yes/no)
2021
February 2021A Midwinter Nights YakTTG Tessendier Lot 9525-year Cognac, 110 proof (NCF)Y
May 2021Riff Bird “Smoky”New Riff Single Barrel Bourbon4-year, barrel-proof KSBW (NCF)Y
May 2021Riff Bird “Candy”New Riff Single Barrel Bourbon4-year, barrel-proof KSBW (NCF)Y
August 2021Trail Bird “Krispy Kreme”Wilderness Trail Single Barrel Rye4-year, barrel-proof KSRW (NCF)Y
September 2021Symposium (collab with Malt Review)Westland Single Cask Selection6-year, barrel-proof American Single Malt (ex-tequila cask finish)Y
September 2021Whiskey HouseJack Daniel’s Single Barrel5-year, barrel-proof Tennessee whiskeyY
October 2021Star Bird MMXXIStarlight – Huber’s Rickhouse Select4-grain straight bourbon whiskeyY
October 2021Star Bird MMXXI-VDNStarlight – Huber’s Rickhouse SelectVDN ryeY
October 2021Cigar Bird MMXXIStarlight – Huber’s Rickhouse SelectCigar Batch BourbonY
November 2021The Clermont BakeryKnob Creek Single Barrel Rye5-year, 115-proof KSRWY
December 2021Deus Ex MachinaWoodinville Single Barrel Select5-year, barrel-proof straight bourbonY
December 2021Spirits Community CollaborationL’Encantada XO ArmagnacCask-strength blend of vintage casks (1986, 1993, and 2008)Y
2022
January 4, 2022Strawberry JamDriftless Glen Single Barrel Rye Whiskey5-year, barrel-proof straight ryeY
January 21, 2022Rare Bird 101 “Soar”Rare Character Single Barrel Series6-year, barrel-proof KY-aged MGP bourbonY
January 21, 2022Rare Bird 101 “Squawk”Rare Character Single Barrel SeriesBarrel-proof KY-aged MGP bourbonN
March 15, 2022“Loretto & Lawrenceburg”Maker’s Mark Private SelectionBarrel-proof straight bourbon finished in toasted oak stavesY
March 30, 2022Rare Bird 101 “Sing”Rare Character Single Barrel SeriesBarrel-proof 95/5 KY ryeN
May 31, 2022Riff Bird “Dad’s Away”New Riff Single Barrel BourbonBarrel-proof KSBWY
June 1, 2022Russell’s Renegades for KNB “Kiss”Rare Character Single Barrel SeriesPX Sherry finished, 95/5 Indiana ryeY
June 1, 2022Russell’s Renegades for JHOB “Plume”Rare Character Single Barrel Series6-year, barrel-proof 95/5 KY ryeY
June 7, 2022Russell’s Renegades & Clay Risen for KNBWoodinville Single Barrel Rye5-year, barrel-proof 100% straight ryeY
September 29, 2022Russell’s Renegades and JHOBStarlight – Huber’s Rickhouse Select ex-Weller/rum barrel-finished BourbonY
September 29, 2022Russell’s Renegades and JHOBStarlight – Huber’s Rickhouse Select Oloroso Sherry finished bourbonY
September 29, 2022Russell’s Renegades and JHOBStarlight – Huber’s Rickhouse Select Madeira finished ryeY
October 24, 2022Rare Bird 101 for JHOBRare Character Single Barrel SeriesStraight bourbon finished in a Foursquare ECS caskN
December 17, 2022Cigar Bird MMXXIIIStarlight – Huber’s Rickhouse SelectCigar Batch RyeY
2023
March 31, 2023Russell’s Renegades and JHOBWilderness TrailBarrel-proof KY straight rye whiskeyN
April 1, 2023Rare Bird 101 & AficionadosLaird’sBarrel-proof straight apple brandyN
Spring 2023Rare Bird 101 & KNBDriftless GlenBarrel-proof straight rye whiskeyN
Summer 2023Rare Bird 101 & JHOBRare CharacterExceptional SeriesN
October 17, 2023Russell’s Renegades & JHOBStarlightTBDN

Last updated: May 10, 2023