Russell's Reserve 6 Year Rye

Strong alcohol whiff - warm, medium finish - peppery notes with a bit of menthol aftertaste - good for digestion after steak :)

Very nice, well-balanced rye with sweet and spicy notes of honey, vanilla, and light wood

On the nose i get certain amount of sweetness and caramel. First sip isn’t overpowering. The burn of black pepper is there but quickly released. Peacan is subtle in the finish. The linger and full body is slightly longer than most. There is a bit of dryness after-feel in the mouth similar to a dry wine. Ice doesnt chang flaor profile, only softens the initial burn. Pretty good for a sipping whiskey.

Really quite… disappointing? Thin, dry, and even a little hotter than I’d expect at only 90-proof, Russell’s Reserve Rye just doesn’t do much for me on its own. It has a nice nose, but the flavor and mouthfeel just aren’t there for me. Fortunately the finish is quite short so it doesn’t linger long. It is becoming apparent that, even as a fan of rye whiskey in general, I may just not be in the pocket for Wild Turkey’s rye expressions. WT 101 Rye is okay, WT Rare Breed Rye is marginally better than WT 101 Rye at twice the cost ($48), and Russell’s Reserve Rye is the worst of the three but somehow the most expensive ($50). I’ve heard very good things about Russell’s Reserve Rye Single Barrel, and still want to try it out, but expectations are low — which is interesting to say about a $80-90 bottle.