Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon Review

This is the old label used by the brand for many years.

The premium Russell’s Reserve lineup offers bourbon and rye whiskies in both small batch and single barrel form.  In the case of the bourbon, the small batch is aged for ten years.  This single barrel release offers no age statement.  Where I found the small batch full of flavor and character, it didn’t have the “bite” I expect from Wild Turkey.  That’s due to it’s 90 proof bottling.  90 proof isn’t a low proof per se, but when compared to WT 101, it’s low.  Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel more than makes up for that, giving us a hearty 110 proof bourbon.  Also of note is there is no chill filtering happening here, which allows for a slightly richer flavor.

I love single barrel offerings.  They give you the whiskey with no bull.  There is no blending going on here (not that blending is a bad thing).  All we have to judge this whiskey is this single barrel.  Every now and then, a barrel falls flat.  But for the most part, single barrel whiskies are more interesting than standard blends.

The decision to bottle Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel bourbon at 110 proof is a great one.  This one has robust aromas bursting out of the glass.  Vanilla bean, anise, plums, sweet corn, and some spicy cinnamon rise out of the glass in a concentrated burst.  This bourbon is bold.  Flavors of dark brown sugar, dried figs, vanilla creme brûlée, and toasted rye spice fill the palate.   A very long, warm finish leaves behind some spiced caramel.

This stuff’s fantastic.  I like it as much as the 10-year-old Russell’s Reserve, but for different reasons.  I love the boldness of this single barrel release.  I think this one carries its flavors and essence better, while the flavors in the 10-year-old are more intricate and complex.  You really can’t go wrong with either whiskey.  They’re both highly recommended.

8.5/10

wildturkeybourbon.com

(Note: A review sample was provided by the company behind this whisky free of charge. The opinions written are my own.)

Russell’s Reserve Bourbon Review

As big of a Wild Turkey fan as I am, I can’t explain why I’ve never tried Russell’s Reserve until now.  I know, I know.  There’s no excuse.

Russell’s Reserve the premium brand from the Wild Turkey Distillery.  There’s a 10-year-old bourbon (which I’m writing about in this article), a single barrel bourbon, a six-year-old rye whiskey, and a single barrel rye whiskey.

The Russell in Russell’s Reserve refers to the two master distillers, Jimmy and his son Eddie Russell.  Jimmy’s been in the business for more than 60 years.  Eddie recently celebrated 35 years in the whiskey business.  I had the pleasure of meeting both bourbon legends at Tales of the Cocktail aboard the Wild Turkey bus.  It was an amazing experience and you want, you can read about it here.

Onto the whiskey.

Russell’s Reserve 10-year-old bourbon is one of the few whiskies coming out of the Wild Turkey distillery with an age statement.  It’s a small batch bourbon, which just means there are less barrels blended in a batch of Russell’s Reserve compared to a batch of Wild Turkey.  Remember, the term “small batch” has no official meaning.

One thing I love about Wild Turkey 101 is the high proof.  It elevates the spicy profile of that bourbon beautifully.  I try my best not to judge a whiskey before I try it.  I really do.  But when I saw the lower-than-expected 90 proof on this label I inadvertently formed a slightly negative opinion.  “Where’s the 101 proof?” I asked.  See, Wild Turkey 81 tastes like a watered down, neutered version of Wild Turkey 101.  It has no bite.  My mind sort of went to that line of thinking when I read the label for Russell’s Reserve 10-year.  Boy was I wrong.

Ten years in a barrel is pure magic for this bourbon.  The nose is rich and spicy, providing waves of cooked vanilla bean and light brown sugar.  Hints of anise, toasted rye bread and oak round out the aromatic nose.  The palate is equally inviting, with a fuller-than-expected mouthfeel.  Big bourbon caramel and vanilla notes are present.  However, it’s not as sweet as a standard bourbon, and that’s due to the high rye content in the mash bill.  Cardamom and dried herbs give way to nutmeg, cinnamon sticks and oak.  The medium finish leaves a refreshing mint note.

Russell’s Reserve 10-year is a very enjoyable bourbon.  It has loads of flavor and a beautiful nose, but something is missing here.  The “bite” I associate with Wild Turkey bourbon isn’t really found here.  Instead it’s one of the smoother bourbons coming from the Wild Turkey distillery.  I assume lots of people like that word when describing a whiskey, as it’s found in just about every bourbon advertisement I come across.   Personally, I want the bourbon coming from the Wild Turkey Distillery to have “bite” and it’s slightly lacking here.  Don’t conflate “bite” with character.  This bourbon has plenty of that.  Russell’s Reserve is a well-rounded, thoroughly flavorful bourbon that should please just about anybody who drinks it.

8.5/10
(Note: A review sample was provided by the company behind this whisky free of charge.  The opinions written are my own.)

Buffalo Trace Experimental Collection Review – Infrared Light
Photo courtesy of Buffalo Trace

Photo courtesy of Buffalo Trace

In what may be it’s most science fiction-like experiment yet, Buffalo Trace Distillery’s newest addition to their Experiment Collection sees the company using infrared light waves.  Just before the eight barrels used were charred, they were exposed to infrared light.  The press release explains the process:

Working with barrel cooper Independent Stave Company in 2009, eight special barrels were constructed. All eight first underwent the same process as standard Buffalo Trace barrels, staves were open air seasoned for six months before being made into barrels.

Then, the barrels were divided into two groups and subjected to two different levels of infrared light waves.  The first group of four barrels underwent 15 minutes of both short wave and medium wave frequency at 70% power.  The second group of four barrels was subjected to 30 minutes of both short wave and medium wave frequency at 60% power. The barrels were then given a quick #1 (or 15 seconds) char, before finally being filled with Buffalo Trace’s Bourbon Mash #1.

The whiskey matured for six and a half years in those barrels and then were bottled at 90 proof.  Keeping in line with the rest of the Experimental Collection, both the 15 minute and 30 minute are available separately in 375ml bottles for about $46.

15 MINUTE INFRARED LIGHT WAVE BARREL

The nose here carries lots of butterscotch, vanilla and sweet oak.  It’s one of the lighter noses I’ve encountered in a Buffalo Trace bourbon.  After a few moments in the glass, some red fruit aromas develop.  Taste-wise, oak is a tad more prevalent than the nose suggests.  The mouthfeel is on the thin side.  Lots of vanilla and oak spice prevail over the sweet traditional bourbon caramel.  The finish is full of vanilla ice cream and a touch of nutmeg.  Not bad.  Not bad at all.  It’s a young, solid bourbon that has some characteristics of older whiskey.  But, nothing special here.

30 MINUTE INFRARED LIGHT WAVE BARREL

There’s a lot more oak here compared to the 15 minute experiment.  This bed of toasted oak provides a foundation, followed by maraschino cherries, vanilla extract, dark caramel, and light floral notes.  The entry here is an initial hit of cinnamon spice, followed by tons of oak.  It’s mouth drying from the start.  Sweetness is provided by caramel candy and maple syrup.  With so much oak in the nose and palate, it comes as no surprise that the finish is short and dry.  Not a fan of this one.  Where things mostly came together for the 15 minute infrared experiment, this one is an oaky bust.

While I am always thoroughly curious with Buffalo Trace Distillery’s experiments, I don’t always love them.  This is one of those rare times.   These aren’t rot-gut bourbons by any means.  They are just okay, and that in itself is acceptable given the circumstances of experimentation.  Not all experimental whiskies are going to be phenomenal.  It’s just the nature of the game.

(Note:  A review sample was provided by the company behind these whiskies free of charge.  The opinions written are my own.)