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 Date | Name | Expression | Barrel, Location | Released (yes/no) |
2018 | ||||
September 5, 2018 | One & A Century | Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon | 18-0643 CNF 5 | Y |
2019 | ||||
May 6, 2019 | Promise to Mr. PorkChop | Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon | 18-0573 CNF 6 | Y |
May 6, 2019 | Russell the Muscle | Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon | 18-0567 CNF 6 | Y |
May 6, 2019 | Swan Song: A Barrel to Remember | Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon | 19-0074 CNA 4 | Y |
August 14, 2019 | Fast Eddie: No Ice, No Glass | Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon | 19-0538 CNF 6 | Y |
2020 | ||||
April 14, 2020 | Russell’s Renegades #404 | Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon | 20-0404 TYB 4 | Y |
April 14, 2020 | Russell’s Renegades #183 | Wild Turkey Kentucky Spirit | 20-0183 TYE 4 | Y |
September 8, 2020 | Rare Bird 101 & JHOB “PayDay” | Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon | 20-0689 TYG 4 | Y |
September 8, 2020 | Rare Bird 101 & JHOB “Granny’s Spice Rack” | Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon | 20-0884 TYS 5 | Y |
2021 | ||||
March 18, 2021 | Rare Bird 101 & KNB “Canada Dry” | Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon | 21-0315 CNA 4 | Y |
March 18, 2021 | Rare Bird 101 & KNB “Old Jim” | Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon | 21-0024 MCB 4 | Y |
March 18, 2021 | Rare Bird 101 & KNB “Old Spendthrift” | Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon | 21-0508 TYF 4 | Y |
March 18, 2021 | Rare Bird 101 & KNB “Anderson Club” | Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon | 21-0586 TYF 4 | Y |
2022 | ||||
March 16, 2022 | “Lawrenceburg & Loretto” Russell’s Renegades and JHOB | Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon | 20-0176 TYE 4 | Y |
March 16, 2022 | Rare Bird 101 5th Anniversary – Russell’s Renegades and JHOB | Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon | 22-2163 TYT 4 | Y |
March 16, 2022 | “Kentucky’s Finest” Russell’s Renegades and JHOB | Wild Turkey Kentucky Spirit | 21-0268 TYK 4 | Y |
June 1, 2022 | Bourbon Community Collaboration | Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon | 22-2153 TYB 4 | Y |
June 1, 2022 | “Hindsight is 101 Proof” Russell’s Renegades and KNB | Wild Turkey Kentucky Spirit | 22-0306 CNA 4 | Y |
June 1, 2022 | “Rack Cat” Russell’s Renegades and KNB | Wild Turkey Kentucky Spirit | 22-0290 CNA 4 | Y |
June 1, 2022 | “Corner Barrel” Russell’s Renegades and KNB | Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon | 22-2148 TYA 4 | Y |
June 1, 2022 | “TUX” Russell’s Renegades and KNB | Wild Turkey Kentucky Spirit | 22-0300 CNA 4 | Y |
September 30, 2022 | Russell’s Renegades and JHOB | Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon | 22-0817 TYF 4 | N |
September 30, 2022 | Russell’s Renegades and JHOB | Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon | 22-0859 CNB 5 | N |
2023 | ||||
March 30, 2023 | POAC | KSBW | CNB | N |
March 30, 2023 | POAC | KSBW | TYM | N |
July 19, 2023 | Russell’s Renegades | KSBW | TBD | N |
July 19, 2023 | Russell’s Renegades | KSBW | TBD | N |
July 19, 2023 | Russell’s Renegades | KSBW | TBD | N |
July 19, 2023 | Russell’s Renegades | KSBW | TBD | N |
October 18, 2023 | Russell’s Renegades | KSBW | TBD | N |
Non Wild Turkey Barrel/Cask Selections
Selection Date | Name | Expression | Barrel/Cask Info | Released (yes/no) |
2021 | ||||
February 2021 | A Midwinter Nights Yak | TTG Tessendier Lot 95 | 25-year Cognac, 110 proof (NCF) | Y |
May 2021 | Riff Bird “Smoky” | New Riff Single Barrel Bourbon | 4-year, barrel-proof KSBW (NCF) | Y |
May 2021 | Riff Bird “Candy” | New Riff Single Barrel Bourbon | 4-year, barrel-proof KSBW (NCF) | Y |
August 2021 | Trail Bird “Krispy Kreme” | Wilderness Trail Single Barrel Rye | 4-year, barrel-proof KSRW (NCF) | Y |
September 2021 | Symposium (collab with Malt Review) | Westland Single Cask Selection | 6-year, barrel-proof American Single Malt (ex-tequila cask finish) | Y |
September 2021 | Whiskey House | Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel | 5-year, barrel-proof Tennessee whiskey | Y |
October 2021 | Star Bird MMXXI | Starlight – Huber’s Rickhouse Select | 4-grain straight bourbon whiskey | Y |
October 2021 | Star Bird MMXXI-VDN | Starlight – Huber’s Rickhouse Select | VDN rye | Y |
October 2021 | Cigar Bird MMXXI | Starlight – Huber’s Rickhouse Select | Cigar Batch Bourbon | Y |
November 2021 | The Clermont Bakery | Knob Creek Single Barrel Rye | 5-year, 115-proof KSRW | Y |
December 2021 | Deus Ex Machina | Woodinville Single Barrel Select | 5-year, barrel-proof straight bourbon | Y |
December 2021 | Spirits Community Collaboration | L’Encantada XO Armagnac | Cask-strength blend of vintage casks (1986, 1993, and 2008) | Y |
2022 | ||||
January 4, 2022 | Strawberry Jam | Driftless Glen Single Barrel Rye Whiskey | 5-year, barrel-proof straight rye | Y |
January 21, 2022 | Rare Bird 101 “Soar” | Rare Character Single Barrel Series | 6-year, barrel-proof KY-aged MGP bourbon | Y |
January 21, 2022 | Rare Bird 101 “Squawk” | Rare Character Single Barrel Series | Barrel-proof KY-aged MGP bourbon | N |
March 15, 2022 | “Loretto & Lawrenceburg” | Maker’s Mark Private Selection | Barrel-proof straight bourbon finished in toasted oak staves | Y |
March 30, 2022 | Rare Bird 101 “Sing” | Rare Character Single Barrel Series | Barrel-proof 95/5 KY rye | N |
May 31, 2022 | Riff Bird “Dad’s Away” | New Riff Single Barrel Bourbon | Barrel-proof KSBW | Y |
June 1, 2022 | Russell’s Renegades for KNB “Kiss” | Rare Character Single Barrel Series | PX Sherry finished, 95/5 Indiana rye | Y |
June 1, 2022 | Russell’s Renegades for JHOB “Plume” | Rare Character Single Barrel Series | 6-year, barrel-proof 95/5 KY rye | Y |
June 7, 2022 | Russell’s Renegades & Clay Risen for KNB | Woodinville Single Barrel Rye | 5-year, barrel-proof 100% straight rye | Y |
September 29, 2022 | Russell’s Renegades and JHOB | Starlight – Huber’s Rickhouse Select | ex-Weller/rum barrel-finished Bourbon | Y |
September 29, 2022 | Russell’s Renegades and JHOB | Starlight – Huber’s Rickhouse Select | Oloroso Sherry finished bourbon | Y |
September 29, 2022 | Russell’s Renegades and JHOB | Starlight – Huber’s Rickhouse Select | Madeira finished rye | Y |
October 24, 2022 | Rare Bird 101 for JHOB | Rare Character Single Barrel Series | Straight bourbon finished in a Foursquare ECS cask | N |
December 17, 2022 | Cigar Bird MMXXIII | Starlight – Huber’s Rickhouse Select | Cigar Batch Rye | Y |
2023 | ||||
March 31, 2023 | Russell’s Renegades and JHOB | Wilderness Trail | Barrel-proof KY straight rye whiskey | N |
April 1, 2023 | Rare Bird 101 & Aficionados | Laird’s | Barrel-proof straight apple brandy | N |
Spring 2023 | Rare Bird 101 & KNB | Driftless Glen | Barrel-proof straight rye whiskey | N |
Summer 2023 | Rare Bird 101 & JHOB | Rare Character | Exceptional Series | N |
October 17, 2023 | Russell’s Renegades & JHOB | Starlight | TBD | N |
Last updated: May 10, 2023