![]() ![]() This topic has been discussed before – most recently on Bourbon Pursuit. (After tasting this stellar barrel, maybe I should add Total Wine to the “early on it” list, at least Total Wine of South Carolina.) Were it not for these vendors and clubs, I’m not sure Wild Turkey’s private barrel program would be nearly as successful as it is today. Several old-school bourbon clubs were well “in the know” years ago, as were some smaller, enthusiast-oriented retailers. It’s only recently that Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel private selections started receiving the attention that’s long been due. Looking back, maybe I shouldn’t be so surprised that a 2015 bottle sat almost four years. It’s a damn fine Russell’s Reserve – one I’m more than grateful to have in my cabinet. It sips under proof and notably above its retail price tier. I’m also reminded of mid-2000’s Wild Turkey 101 and similar-era Kentucky Spirit bottles: complex and layered, yet well-balanced all the same. I’d say it’s quite reminiscent of Russell’s Reserve 10/101 (a solid classic profile with hints of modern traits). While I wouldn’t call it entirely classic/bordering dusty ( a la 2005 Russell’s Reserve 10/90), I wouldn’t call it entirely modern either. I’ll do my best to sum it up briefly (considering what’s to follow).įirst, it’s saturated in classic Wild Turkey notes. You mean to tell me that this private selection sat on shelves at Total Wine in Columbia, SC – priced at standard retail – from 2015 until 2019? Talk about a surprise! There’s so many fantastic things to say about this Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel selection. Taste: ( rich, creamy mouthfeel) thick honey-maple, vanilla bean, brown sugar, caramel, sweet & spicy charred oak, cola, nutmeg, hints of cream cheese icingįinish: long & flavorful – herbal & floral spice, cinnamon, clove, licorice, oak char, vanilla extract, caramel chews, sassafras, leather & tobacco Nose: ( complex modern WT meets undeniably classic WT) dense maple, caramel, toasted vanilla, creme brulee, sweet musty oak, brown sugar, nutmeg, herbal spice, citrus, clove, faint mineral notes Tasted neat in a Glencairn after a few minutes rest … ![]() Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon (2015) selected by Total Wine of South Carolina (barrel #2342, rickhouse H, floor 3) – NAS KSBW at 110 proof (non-chill filtered) – distilled by Austin, Nichols Distilling Co., Lawrenceburg, KY For now, the good news is that I have a bottle of my own to sip, share, and review. It was found on a shelf in Columbia, SC … in 2019. Surely this was a freshly opened bunker bottle, right? Nope. But the best of the bunch? A 2015 “strip-label” private selection by Total Wine & More of South Carolina – handwritten tag and all. Of the top two, one was the 2018 Master Distiller Selection – possibly my favorite Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon of last year. Dare I say the old, classic Turkey profile? Yes. While each were exemplary on the nose (in their own ways), by the time I compared tastes and finishes, it was obvious one had something remarkably unique over the other – something not typically found in modern Wild Turkey. I knew they were all Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon private selections, but that was all. ![]() My task was simple – put them in order from least to most favorite. And while there’s always healthy debate (sometimes disagreement), those with cool and level heads understand that in this particular hobby, all opinions are valued and respected.Ī couple of months ago, a friend provided me a series of blind samples (big thanks, Bryant). As noted in a recent Patreon post, we all “gather around the hearth” to share our whiskey and whiskey stories. Sure, there’s many hobbies one could argue a similar facet, but with whiskey enthusiasm – true whiskey enthusiasm – politics, religion, and egos are checked at the door. I’ve met some truly incredible folks along my bourbon journey – kind, caring, generous – people genuinely interested in sharing their passion. Such is the subject of today’s post, but more on that to come. It’s just one of those little discoveries that bring you complete satisfaction. Every once in a while, a memorable bourbon comes your way. ![]()
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