Russell’s Reserve - Private Barrel Selection

Russell's Reserve is a premium bourbon line created by Wild Turkey master distillers Jimmy and Eddie Russell. It was first introduced in 2001 to celebrate Jimmy Russell's 45 years of service at the Wild Turkey distillery[5]. The brand was developed by Eddie Russell as a tribute to his father Jimmy's legacy, blending traditional bourbon-making techniques with modern approaches[5].

The core Russell's Reserve lineup includes a 10-year-old bourbon and a 6-year-old rye whiskey, both bottled at 90 proof[5]. In 2013, they introduced a single barrel bourbon at 110 proof, which quickly became highly sought after by bourbon enthusiasts[5]. More recently, Russell's Reserve has released limited edition ultra-aged expressions like the 13-year and 15-year old bourbons[3][4].

Russell's Reserve aims to offer a more refined, premium bourbon experience compared to standard Wild Turkey offerings. The brand showcases the Russell family's century of combined distilling experience, with bottles proudly displaying both Jimmy and Eddie's signatures[5]. Through Russell's Reserve, Eddie Russell has helped elevate Wild Turkey's reputation in the premium bourbon segment[7].

Review:

Nose: I immediately get dark cherry and peanut shells on the nose. A little bit of baking spice (nutmeg) comes through on the side as well. The ethanol still comes through on this one as it sits at 110 proof (All of the private barrel offerings sit at this proof). It is lightly sweetened on the nose but not overly complex. Not a bad thing!

Palate: This private barrel selection is heavily nutty. Not nutty in the sense of a George Dickel but it reminds me above the scent you would have when you open a bag of peanuts at a baseball game. I am getting a bit of almond extract like sugar cookies as well with some of the cherry coming through almost as if it was drizzled on. The oak coms in right before the finish. You taste the nine years that this was aged and I feel this was aged for a proper timeframe. This bottle is quite oily on the tongue which I like and the flavors linger for a while after the sip.

Finish: The “kentucky hug” is strong on this one. (Kentucky hug is slang for the warmth that you feel after having a sip of whiskey). The finish is wonderfully fruity and nuttiness almost disappears as the baking spice kicks in. It lingers for about 15-20 seconds after the sip. the finish is not complex but it has a nice classic Wild Turkey flavor to it.

Overall: 78. I would have liked to see a bit more complexity on this selection. It was a one (or two) trick pony and while it did those flavors very well, it would have been nice to get a bit more out of it for the $65 price point. Russell’s Reserve store picks have been known to vary substantially from some one-of-a-kind top-tier bottles to some very odd flavor profiles that are not common in their core lines. I think this lands in the middle.

Value: 65/100

Availability: Low to Medium. These selections are becoming more available and I have seen quite a few more shops offer selections over the past year or two.

Citations:

[1] https://www.thewhiskeyshelf.com/russells-reserve-single-barrel-bourbon-review/

[2] https://rarebird101.com/2020/11/11/russells-reserve-10-year-bourbon-2020/

[3] https://www.amongstthewhiskey.com/post/russell-s-reserve-15-year-bourbon-review-a-step-into-the-realm-of-ultra-aged-expensive-whiskey-fro

[4] https://www.bourbonbanter.com/russells-reserve-15-year-old-bourbon-review/

[5] https://www.russellsreserve.com/en-us/our-story/

[6] https://adventuresinwhiskey.com/2016/06/07/russells-reserve-bourbon-review/

[7] https://www.reddit.com/r/bourbon/comments/1e0dj8a/review_russells_reserve_10_through_the_years_2004/

[8] https://www.whiskeyinmyweddingring.com/reviews/russells-reserve-15-year-old-bourbon