Russell's Reserve - Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
$64.99
Russell’s Reserve – Single Barrel – Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Collection: Barrel Unknown – Total Wine Gainsville, FL
Proof: 110
Age: No age statement on the bottle – Believe to be 9-10 years
Distillery: Wild Turkey Distilling Company
Type: Kentucky Straight Bourbon / Single Barrel / Store Pick
Mash: 75% Corn, 13% Rye, 12% Barley (per research, was unable to verify on the bottle or at Wild Turkey Site)
Website: Russel’s Reserve Single Barrel
*Disclaimer: A score of 5 is the midpoint for my reviews. Above 5 I like it. Below 5 I didn’t for some reason. Most of my reviews are between 4-7. It takes something really really special to go above 7 or below 4. See the methodologies for rating at the end of the article
Nose: Very Bold/Heavy on the nose. I like it. The nose is Deep and Rich. Immediately I get Charred Oak, Leather, and Pipe Tobacco. Not so dominate, but present, is a Sweet Caramel and Vanilla.
Taste/Palate: Just as bold as the nose. This doesn’t give me that “Rickhouse” taste which is one of my favorites, but this is similar to a Stagg Jr Palate. Stagg Jr is much higher proof, so for Russel’s to pull off a bold taste similar to a Stagg Jr is a testament for a 110 proof. This is Delicious, Complex, and bold up front with a transition into Dark Fruit notes in the mid-palate.
Finish: The finish lingers for a while which I would expect for a bold and “Meaty” pour. It was light on the mouth tingle and only the favor left it’s mark. It is very smooth and the finish is similar to taking a draw off of a Rum Soaked Cigar and chewing on it for a while.
Verdict: I support this pick 100%. I now want to go out and find another bottle here in Michigan to see if this is the standard of this pour or if I just got lucky on this particular barrel.
The Story: This one was spotted by one of my friends through his contact in FL and asked if I was interested. Of course I was. “Pick one up for me” is a phrase you will here come out of my mouth often. Super glad I jumped on this one.
Ok, so I do have a side story that relates to Russell’s. Many moons ago I was at the store with a bottle of Templeton’s Rye in my hand. I was preparing to have people over and wanted to make Old Fashioneds. A store goer asked me: “Do you like Rye’s”. My reply was… “For Old Fashioneds I do”. He said that I should try Russel’s Rye then. It was right next to the Templeton’s and only a few dollars more. Why not? I bring it home and make a round of Old Fashioneds for everyone. Each of us didn’t like the Old Fashioned. My friend said “Dave, typically you’re good at making these… What happened”. I took all 4 full glasses, dumped them out and started over. SAME RESULT on round 2! Dumped those too. I then took 4 shot glasses and filled them with straight Russell’s Rye. Handed them to the other 3 that were with me and told the story of the guy telling me how great it was. We each took a sip and then dumped that too. It was the rye. It was awful! All 4 of us couldn’t tolerate it. Needless to say I was apprehensive about picking up a bottle that was double the price of the Rye with the name Russell’s on it. But… This hit it out of the park! I almost want to revisit the Rye to see if maybe I got a bad batch or something.
That’s my story. Well, other than where’s the info on the barrel? It’s not on the bottle so I assume there was a tag that was on there, that either got lost in transport to me or I wasn’t thinking and decided to toss it. My apologies I can’t pin-point specifically what barrel this one was.
The Research: I always decide to taste a pour before I do any research. Many times the distillery will provide flavor profiles and in a google search other reviews might show up. I don’t want my research to create a bias on my taste profile. So what you read above is always what I smell and taste prior to reading anything on the product or many times even the bottle! After a little research the website for Wild Turkey didn’t provide much, but what I could find is that Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel uses type 4 charred American oak barrels. This would be considered a moderate to heavy char. Most standard Bourbons will use 3 or less on the char-o-meter (I just made that up). This made me feel great about my nose and taste buds because that would surely explain the deep complex notes I get out of this bottle.
Methodologies for Rating:
1. Dump it down the drain or regift it to someone you don’t care for.
2. This doesn’t even belong in a mixed drink. Use in case of an emergency.
3. It’s really not for me, but I heard some people like it.
4. Its only good when I’ve had too many and it’s decent in a mixer.
5. Solid. It hit all of what’s expected.
6. Above average. Good to bring to an event and you wouldn’t expect any guff from it.
7. Buy two if you see it to make sure you have one on reserve.
8. Very Very good. Constantly a GREAT POUR.
9. Superb. If I were to drink this and only this from now on I’d be a happy person.
10. Perfection is impossible. But this really comes as close as you can possibly get.
Reviewer: David S
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