We enjoyed a tasting at the bar and bought a bottle of American Honey Sting to take home! We arrived and checked in at the Wild Turkey Visitors Center and low and behold, Jimmy Russel was in the lobby to great guests. Very enjoyable, robust, and easily a palate to take note of. As Eddie began tasting through barrels selected for consideration for this release, he knew immediately once hed tasted from the Camp Nelson C center-cut barrels that hed found a special batch. At the tastings, you get to try the higher end versions and they are very good. Now with celebrity Matthew McConaughey as spokesperson and brand ambassador, Wild Turkey withstands the test of time making quality whiskey for fans new and old. It offers tours and is part of the American Whiskey Trail and the Kentucky Bourbon Trail . 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Email address. I havent had Russells Reserve Single Barrel in over 3.5 years, so lets see if Ive been missing out in this Total Wine and Spirits Russells Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon review. Jimmy's son Eddie Russell first released the 13 Year expression, the oldest for the brand, back in summer 2021. The Single Rickhouse from Camp Nelson C serves as a testament to the Russell Familys mastery of craft bourbon and appreciation of the distinctive liquid nuances that each Single Rickhouse brings. Legendary bourbon-makers Jimmy and Eddie Russell use their vast knowledge to craft this 10-year-old classic bourbon. Russells Reserve 13 year is very sweet, oaky, fruity, and spicy as you might expect, with good balance between them. Leather, tobacco, and toffee further mingle in. By continuing to browse our website, you agree to first-party and third-party cookies being stored on your device. Support The Whiskey Shelf byBuying Me A Shot. Russell's Reserve 10 Year - Beautiful Bourbon Russells Reserve bourbon and rye, Rare Breed and Wild Turkey American Honey are frequent offerings. about Basil Haydens Two By Two Rye Review, about Yellowstone Limited Edition Bourbon 2019 Review, Heavens Door Decade Series Bourbon 10 Years Review, A. Smith Bowman Cask Strength 10 Years Review, Yellowstone Limited Edition Bourbon 2019 Review, Russells Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon Review, Old Fitzgerald Bottled In Bond 11 Years Review. Russells Reserve 13 Year welcomes me with dark brown sugar, roasted oak, chocolate, vanilla, dried cherry and orange peel, licorice, fresh and slightly tart cranberry, and a little peach and smoke. It was stunning! I'm talking crushed roasted peanut shells with a little burnt . What hotels are near Wild Turkey Distillery? Taking a deeper inhale reveals a light smokiness thats accented by cigar box and a hint of leather. At the same time, a little bit of the oaky astringency starts to come out. Worth the stop. Wild Turkey Distillery is located close to Frankfort and Lexington. Selection of Wild Turkey bourbon was good. Checking all of the right boxes in their tight range of offerings - single barrel, high proof, and high age - Russells Reserve Single Barrel offers a taste of Wild Turkey bourbon in a format bourbon enthusiasts tend to enjoy most. The bigger and rounder viscosity and low-end arent there, and I want it. Russells Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon has a musty and herbal sweetness honey, licorice, anise, cherry, other dried fruits, guava, grapefruit, and a little vanilla. As an FYI, I bought and use these Glencairn glasses for everything (theyre the best): Full transparency, this is an affiliate link, so I may earn a commission if you buy this or something else from Amazon. Is Wild Turkey on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail? Other Wild Turkey offerings such as Rare Breed ($50) and Kentucky Spirit ($55) come close, and the aforementioned Knob Creek Single Barrel ($45) and Four Roses Single Barrel ($45) actually clock in about $10 less. Wild Turkey Distillery Tour Part 1 - The Whiskey Jug Russells Reserve 13 Year Old is aged for a minimum of 13 years and bottled at an ABV of 57.4%, promising a distinctive, rich, warm flavor best enjoyed right out of the bottle. Tasting with lovely view, great product with just enough variation, but not so much that any of the tastings deviated form the companys standard of quality! Russell's Reserve Bourbon Review - The Whiskey Jug This is assuming that the distillate was barreled within 3 weeks of it being distilled, but I cant guarantee that it was. There are no sponsors, no media companies, and no nonsense. You know youre a part of the family when they break out the reserve. This may be stupid but do you have to reserve a tour to do a tasting? Its 90 proof, and is made up of 75% corn, 13% rye and 12% malted barley. We tried 2 times to get to the pop up store, closed both times. Enjoyed our time here. (this got worse as it oxidized in the bottle). Produced anywhere in USA; Mash bill of at least 51% corn; aged in new, charred oak containers. Russell's Reserve 13 Year Bourbon Review [In Depth] - The Whiskey Shelf Double oaked bourbons have a different type of sweetness, although still chocolate and vanilla forward, but its not quite the same. I believe she can but she might not be able to attend the tasting portion. Felt welcome as soon as we walked in! Russell's Reserve 13 Year Old Bourbon (Batch 4, 2023) Review Its tough to explain because it feels like its missing that final piece of low end roundness and overall body and depth to completely tie it all together. Did I mention Bourbon! Wild Turkey is superior at making high proof bourbons, full of flavor, smooth as jazz! In this case, its oddly not there, unnoteworthy if anything. I don't drink but this was surprisingly my favorite. Distiller.com uses cookies that are essential for us to operate the website and that are helpful for us to improve the services. It helps a lot, but it doesnt get all the way there. An excellent event for anyone new to Wild Turkey but not special for experienced drinkers of the brand. Expanding the comparison to other companies offerings, Russells Reserve Single Barrel is best compared to Knob Creek Single Barrel and Four Roses Single Barrel - two readily-available, similarly aged, rye-mashbill single barrel options from major Kentucky distilleries - and each offered within 10 proof points of Russells Reserve. Jimmy & Eddie certainly know what they're doing! [2022] - [The Whiskey Shelf] | All rights reserved, 1.3/2.0 on the color scale (russet muscat). As much as I dont want to go into any review with expectations, which I guess I could fix by doing it blind, I admit that I have some lingering expectations. Im glad that its not, though, because selfishly, I want to be able to buy this on the regular. Explore different ways to experience this place. Rare Breed Rye was available for purchase in a full bottle or to sample for $12 per shot. Very nice man to talk to. Learn more about bourbons that I think make decent Blantons substitutes. 17 Of The Best Bourbons Under $50 Worth Buying, bourbons that I think make decent Blantons substitutes, Russells Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon review, Glencairn-like stainless steel snifter glass, Chattanooga Whiskey 111 Proof Bourbon Review, Old Forester Single Barrel Barrel Strength BK Miller, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Single Barrel 9 Year, In Depth: Knob Creek 12 Year Bourbon Review - The Whiskey Shelf. Its a big place, so youll see the scale and volume of whiskey made here throughout the tour. An odd bird, but a tasty bird. One approach isnt better than the other, just an observation for additional context. Olympus. I even tried to haggle down the price to no success, but both of us already knew that the price wasnt that terrible. Russells Reserve has produced some of the best American rye whiskeys of the modern era, and our non-chill filtered, 104-proof Single Barrel Rye is no exception. Mashbill: 75% Corn, 13% Rye, 12% Malted Barley, Russells Reserve Single Barrel is part of Wild Turkeys Russells Reserve line named in honor of Jimmy and Eddie Russell, the father-son master distiller team that have a combined tenure at Wild Turkey in excess of 100 years. Your email address will not be published. Very nice & super friendly. Tue, Sep 5 7:00 PM . Theyre the products of two different distilleries and Eagle Rare tends to be smoother and sweeter due to a lower rye component in the mash bill. Reservations are required for tasting and tour but Covid precautions still resulted in a virtual tour. The virtual tour was no substitute for a real walking tour but was interesting anyhow. The tours were over for the day so we were allowed to walk to the back of the building where the tastings happen, and check out the view. Type & Region: Bourbon, Kentucky, USA. After the first surge in the finish, it settles into this lingering lightly herbal (anise and mint), sweet, and oaky finish; and after a while into light banana peel, which I find interesting and unexpected. Shattered glass really sucks, soif youre on the move, thisGlencairn-like stainless steel snifter glass should survive your travels. Wild Turkey Distillery, Lawrenceburg: Hours, Address, Wild Turkey Distillery Reviews: 4.5/5. After chewing, the finish ebbs and flows between sweet honey, licorice, and fruit, and oak tannins and cinnamon. Russell's Reserve 13 Year Old pays tribute to the distillery's heritage and the legacy pioneered by venerated Master Distiller Jimmy Russell while showcasing Eddie's innovative talents and expert ability to develop supreme flavors through careful aging and a keen sense for identifying only the highest quality barrels. Officially available on shelves in early October, the 2022 Russell's Reserve Single Rickhouse Camp Nelson C will be available for a limited time at select U.S. retailers and at the Wild Turkey Distillery for a suggested retail price of $249. To no surprise, the extra ABV (about 12% more than the 45.5% Wild Turkey 13 Year Distillers Reserve) bulks everything up. Ive honestly enjoyed this Total Wine selection of Russells Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon more than other cask strength / close to cask strength bourbons such as. Foundation For Advancing Alcohol Responsibility. Russell's Reserve 10 Year - The Whiskey Shelf Dont buy it. Jimmy Russell Bourbon Whiskey Master Distiller | Wild Turkey I totally get it too because Ive had a lot of modern Wild Turkey (including some Masters Keeps like. Great staff, super friendly. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Aged oak, caramel, graham cracker, and toffee flavors from the palate carry over but fade in the background. Still, I cant help but feel not completely engaged because it feels incomplete. Published 10/29/13 About Russell's Reserve Russell's Reserve Essential Facts Russell's Reserve was originally created as a limited-edition 10-year-old, 101-proof bourbon to honor master distiller Jimmy Russell. Beginning with this 2022 edition, the brand intends to release it as an annual release going forward. While I have toured the facility a few years ago with our sons, This year, we were happy just to be able to visit the distillery and sample the GREAT whiskey's produced. Do you know more about bourbon than ChatGPT. Each bottle of Russells Reserve 13 Year Old is aged for a minimum of 13 years, reaching an ABV of 57.4% and promising a distinctive, rich, warm flavor best enjoyed right out of the bottle. and THE BEST view we had in all of KY from the tasting room. Its just weird when, Roasted oak, tobacco, brown sugar, marshmallow, cinnamon, dried cherry, smoke continue from the flavors into the finish. We have been to Wild Turkey for many years and have had the pleasure of meeting Jimmy Russell many times. It has this distinct fruitiness that I dont find in many other unfinished bourbons. Just all together an amazing memory and experience to taste great rye and bourbon with that view and then time a last-minute dip into the gift shop perfectly for Jimmy to show up and be able to get a hat signed and picture taken with our best friends. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. Russells Reserve 10 Year is a bit enigmatic to me. Its still multiples above the $75-80 MSRP, but way better than the $400+ Ive seen elsewhere. Russell's Reserve Donates $20K to KDA's 'Lifting Spirits' Very nice experience and highly recommend going by even if the tours are all booked. While Russells son Eddie is in charge now, you still may find Jimmy signing bottles in the gift shop or riding his scooter around the Wild Turkey campus. Seriously though, we went to 8 distilleries in total, did 3 tours (didn't get to tour wild turkey unfortunately) and we wrapped up our trip with wild turkey and what a way to wrap up the trip it was. 7.5/10. Dried fruits with some dark oak tannins continue to linger as everything else fades. Russell's Reserve Single Barrel is part of Wild Turkey's Russell's Reserve line named in honor of Jimmy and Eddie Russell, the father-son master distiller team that have a combined tenure at Wild Turkey in excess of 100 years And Ill be honest, I was a bit angsty about it until I got lucky to find this bottle at a store for only $200, with laser code LL/JL. I feel like this release is something of a . Then the finish kicks the spice into overdrive and dominates with sprinkles of oak and fruit. Read our. We offer a variety of public tours as well as custom-made experiences that are tailored to your every bourbon desire. We were disappointed that the main distillery area is still under construction. After chewing, I taste lightly herbal notes mixed-in with quite sweet honey, licorice, vanilla, rainier cherry, citrus, guava, and some toasted oak and cinnamon. 90% of travelers recommend this experience. Theres long-lasting cherry, apricot, toasted oak, tobacco, and smoke that goes on for minutes. Wow, I was wrong to wait so long have one of these again because this Total Wine Selection of Russells Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon is excellent. Russells Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon has rich honey and caramel sweetness followed by vanilla, cherries, citrus, apple, and licorice. Check out the Russells Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon review. Each shines in its own way, with Russells Reserve offering a taste of some of Wild Turkeys select barrels at a proof high enough to satisfy those who enjoy a more robust pour. It's a family affair, and the family just happens to consist of two hall-of-fame Master Distillers, Eddie and Jimmy Russell. It tends to sit on shelves way too long, in my opinion, when it ought to be gobbled up like its a Buffalo Trace Distillery bottle. Our Bourbon & Rye Whiskey products | Russell's Reserve Russells Reserve 13 has loads of roasted caramel, vanilla marshmallow, dried cherry and maraschino cherry, a lot of dark chocolate, fragrant roasted and sweet oak, marzipan (had that recently made from sugar, honey, and almond flour), tobacco, apricot, dried orange peel, and cinnamon. Big oak and rich caramel upfront, with graham cracker sweetness complementing the initial scents nicely. create an account. Please support me on Patreon! We tasted a new Wild Turkey American Honey Sting and bought some. The oak provides a surrounding roasted darkness with hints of cinnamon and dried grass, but remains reserved, subtle, and balanced, very different than Russells Reserve 10 Year, which is dark and oaky with caramel nougat and dark chocolate. The Bluegrass Lounge - Olde Town. Whether its a good value / worth buying above that depends on the person and bank account. Highly Acclaimed Russell's Reserve 13 Gets 2nd Release - Whiskey Raiders Russell's Reserve 2003 marks the latest in a line of innovative whiskies created by Eddie, a 39-year industry veteran who has mastered the craft of . Overall, the flavors remind me a lot of Stagg Jr, although with a little less bite, making this an excellent bourbon. They easily could have made this a $200 Masters Keep Release and it would have sold out immediately. This is made from Wild Turkey's single bourbon mash bill (the same recipe as all Wild Turkey bourbons) and is a hand selected blend of barrels aged ten years or longer, which is what sets it apart. Crafted from hand-selected barrels and bottled at 90 proof, it delivers a crisp, lively taste with a uniquely smooth finish. If you got this far, my point more or less is that it is a delicious oak-forward bourbon that mostly does everything right, but doesnt quite stick the landing for me to think wow. All that oaky maturity and goodness can finally show off their muscles, and it is so so good absolutely a great Top Shelf bourbon. And Russell's Reserve is one my top whiskeys overall. A very interesting individual who presented information about this iconic distillery in a fun and understanding manner Oh! You might think that the higher ABV would give it the launch it needs to get to the top of Bourbon Mt. Your Wild Turkey tour travels around the expansive distillery grounds. Russell's Reserve is, in fact, a part of the Wild Turkey lineup. I personally dont think that its worth the $400+ secondary asking price, but Im not mad about the $214 (after tax) I paid for it. Full transparency, this is an Amazon affiliate link, so I may earn a commission if you buy this or something else from Amazon. I have far too much fun writing about whiskey and singlehandedly running The Whiskey Shelf to bring you independent, honest, and useful reviews, comparisons, and more. Im lucky to have the means to pay that much and I wanted to experience it for myself. . Wild Turkey (bourbon) - Wikipedia Distillery: Wild Turkey. The sweetness shifts to more honey, fruit, and something floral after a few more sniffs. Save As we mentioned in our breakdown of Wild Turkey bourbon, there is no way to talk about the brand without talking about Jimmy & Eddie Russell. Theres more intriguing and pleasant brown sugar, mature and sweet oak, dark chocolate, and dried fruit that Im glad to have. Aged: 10 years in virgin American white oak. Russell's Reserve 13 Year Bourbon (2022 Release) - distiller The gift shop is available without a tour or reservation. Yes, currently you have to have reservation for a tour or tasting. 101 Lawrence Way (Old St. Cajetan Church, Auraria Campus), Only show events from organizers I follow, Your version of Internet Explorer is not longer supported. For those reasons, among Wild Turkeys standard offerings, its my favorite option. First up is a personal favorite, Russell's Reserve 10 Year Old Bourbon. and the beautiful view of the Kentucky River really topped everything off and meet meeting Mr. 100% of travelers recommend this experience. Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more. He was so gracious and friendly - definitely a highlight of the trip. Then we'd really be getting somewhere. The staff was very knowledgeable. Where can I find out more about Wild Turkey Distillery? He was very interesting to chat with and was kind enough to allow us to take some picture with him. by KC | Apr 9, 2022 | Uncategorized | 0 comments. Tour the Wild Turkey Distillery - Bourbon Trail Tours What restaurants are near Wild Turkey Distillery? Bourbon Breakdown: Russell's Reserve Bourbon - distiller Our whiskeys Composition: 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% barley Aged: ~10 years in virgin American white oak. Truly, the Russells and Wild Turkey did an amazing job and I recognize it. Type: Kentucky Straight Bourbon / Single Barrel / Store Pick. Fabulous gift shop and THE BEST view we had in all of KY from the tasting room. Heres a hot take, from memory I think I prefer, Nonetheless, this is probably everything you could ever want from Wild Turkey, and many people will be extremely happy with that. We tried their old fashioned and it was excellent! Support The Whiskey Shelf by. Russell's Reserve 13 has loads of roasted caramel, vanilla marshmallow, dried cherry and maraschino cherry, a lot of dark chocolate, fragrant roasted and "sweet" oak, marzipan (had that recently - made from sugar, honey, and almond flour), tobacco, apricot, dried orange peel, and cinnamon. At the end of the day, Russells Reserve 13 Year is undoubtedly an excellent bourbon, but its not the grand slam I hoped it would be, as unfair as that may sound (and has no impact on my rating). Celebrate Your One-of-a-Kind Mom This Mothers Day with an Unforgettable Experience. Full transparency, this is an Amazon affiliate link, so I may earn a commission if you buy this or something else from Amazon. Russell's Reserve 10 Year Old Bourbon | Russell's Reserve Wild Turkey Distillery is made at 1417 Versailles Road in Lawrenceburg, Ky. Wild Turkey Distillery is owned by Campari. Lucky for me, were going to find out now in this Russells Reserve 13 Year review. If you like Wild Turkey, this is unique in that it was the longest age of any of their products, yet is lower in proof than many of their other products. Visiting Hours Wednesday - Saturday: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Sunday: 12 p.m. - 4 p.m. Closed for Holidays: November 23 & 24 - Thanksgiving December 24th & 25th - Christmas Eve/Day December 31st & January 1 - New Year's Eve/Day Contact Us For Customer Service: RussellsReserve@custhelp.com 1417 Versaille Rd,Lawrenceburg, KY 40342 English (US) Learn how to mix up our favorite bourbon and rye cocktails. 4 alligator char, giving Russell's Reserve its bold flavor and deep auburn color. Legendary Master Distillers Jimmy and Eddie Russell use over 100 years of combined experience to create this thoughtfully crafted expression. Some people equate it to Buffalo Traces Eagle Rare because of the value proposition (similar price point) and its 10 year age stamp, yet thats where the comparisons end. Master Distiller Eddie Russell planned this release for years, and delivered with a robust whiskey that strikes a balance of spicy pepper, vanilla, and tobacco flavors. Theres quite the noticeable fruit presence, even with hints of mango, thats abnormal for unfinished bourbon (I know Im repeating myself). Wed, Sep 27 6:30 PM . It must have been amazing to tour there! If youre shopping on Amazon for Black Friday, Cyber Monday, the holidays, or any other occasion, support The Whiskey Shelf by shopping through my affiliate link Shop Amazon. I thankfully had the means to buy this, so I did, and also grabbed the normal Russells Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon for $55 while I was there. can my underage daughter go on this your with us? My wife doesnt like bourbon but she loves their American Honey Bourbon Liquor. Russell's Reserve Bourbon and Wild Turkey Distilling Co. Support Serving as a distinct expression of the location (or rickhouse) where the liquid is aged and the terroir of that aging environment, each Single Rickhouse bottling will feature rare liquid from a different, individual rickhouse past and present at the Wild Turkey Distillery. In addition, full shots of higher end products could be purchased at their bar for up to $12 per shot. Im sure thats a lot to process for you as I seemingly grasp for the right words to describe Russells 13. Grown by Hall of Fame Master Distiller Jimmy Russell, the brand continues his craftsmanship. That said, Russells Reserve Single Barrel is a viscous and rich smelling bourbon thats very different than other Wild Turkey releases such as. To wrap this all up, I declare that Russells Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon, or at least this particular Total Wine pick, is a keeper. Availability begins in July 2022 nationwide in limited quantities. Like the first release, it too is bottled without chill filtration at barrel proof. more. The overall aroma is robust and inviting, packing enough punch to suggest it will be an intense and flavorful pour. I also really enjoy how everything is so well put together, developed, and balanced so nothing strikes me as off or unpleasant. Because the timer was still running as I started smelling for my second pass, it takes about 12 minutes for the rich lower-end sweet and oaky heft to set back in and bring the scents to their full glory. Our tour guide was Adam. The extra fruitiness in the scents and flavors bring a unique and interesting twist, and it really does it for me. It tastes amazing, but its already clear to me that it doesnt have the same roundness, denseness, and completeness that the scents do. Russell's Reserve - Single Barrel - Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to Wild Turkey! Pro-tip, let Russells Reserve 13 Year rest in the glass for at least 12 minutes to get the full smelling experience. Beatty. . After that, I smell more roasted brown sugar with cotton candy, dried citrus, dark berries, and cherries. Super knowledgeable. On the palate, it is sweet and warming. The supporting oak and spice add a little roasted structure, darkness, and bite, but the honey, fruit, and sweet herbal notes lead the way. The aroma is sweet with a spice accent and rustic oaky undertones. Denver, CO Whiskey Tasting Events | Eventbrite And try to get your tour with Bubba. Whiskey Wednesday: Russell's Reserve. You will have to provide contact tracing information to comply with their Covid-19 policy. Bourbon | September 6, 2022 Share on: Russell's Reserve recently announced an all-new, annual limited-edition premium collection, Russell's Reserve Single Rickhouse, and its debut release, Russell's Reserve Single Rickhouse Camp Nelson C. The first bottling hits retail in early October.