Russell's Reserve 13 Year Bourbon (2021 Release)

Warms your soul, cocoa, chocolate, caramel, toffee, lots of flavor, solid medium heat that lingers, oak and vanilla, with a bit of cinnamon

Aroma - Whoa! Bold AF! Massive oak, molasses, vanilla, candied fruits. Complexity 10/10… don’t even want to take a sip bc of how awesome this is Taste- well this is just damn good. Complex, balanced, bold. More spice comes through here than in the nose (spearmint) and it integrates so well with the massive oak and vanilla presence. Water added - no need. It’s too good and too balanced for me to even consider Drinks like a >$100 bottle

Great floral notes up front followed by a nice lasting spice. Vanilla extract and butterscotch at the finish that coats the mouth very well. Keeps changing as it sits.

Pretty lucky to get a taste of this. Lots of classic Russell's flavors pumped up a bit. It didn't blow me away but would love a bottle to really explore it.

Nose is certainly enticing. Powerful and rich aromas of red orchard fruits, leather, pipe tobacco, oak, all-spice, pepper, and a ton of char with minimal ethanol. Palate hits big and bold with baking spices (nutmeg, clove), cherry, vanilla, burnt sugars, cocoa powder, and hazelnut, with an undefined citrus note floating underneath (blood orange?) that is just perfect. Flavors exert themselves with authority. Finish is extremely long with charcoal, maple, leather, cinnamon, and smooth and refined oak. Lots of spice but less than many RR single barrels I have sampled. Mouthfeel is medium bodied but the oiliest I have ever sampled, which works wonders to deliver the different elements of the finish to all of your taste buds. What’s really impressive here is the balance; not too sweet, not too tannic, not too fruity, but just right. This is actually the first RR expression I have really liked and boy is it a doozy. Not sure what they did here that’s so different from the 10 year versions other than three more years but whatever it is, it’s magic. At $70 retail it’s not just a buy; it’s a clear the shelf. Just a delight.