Russell's Reserve Private Barrel Selection

Thomas Liquors 2023 pick: nose is cherry and caramel. Super thick palate, cinammon, caramel, tabacco, long finish with hints of cherry (4.5/5) 1010 Washington pick: nose is grahame cracker and caramel. Thick palate, caramel, honey, spice, long finish with cinammon and chocolate (4.5/5)

The Party Source pick, "Shady's Pick" Barrel No. 21-0117 Warehouse K; Floor 4 Distilled on 12-26-2012 Dumped on 09-20-2022 Bottled on 10-12-2022 Age - 9 years, 8 months, 25 days Open 7 weeks Nose - Hot cinnamon buns, caramel, hint of nutmeg, cherry bubble gum, light minerality, medium oak spice, and medium ethanol. Palate - Honey Nut Cheerios, sweet grain, ginger snaps, brown sugar, medicinal cherry, white pepper, baking spices, and sweet oak. The finish is medium-long with drier and tannic oak, black pepper, dried stone fruits, grainy caramel, toast, and medium ethanol. This is where I dock it 0.25-0.5 points, and it was a cleaner finish earlier in the bottle. Apparently RR picks are really hard to find now, at least in the Ohio/Kentucky area. The prices reflect that in Kentucky, where RR is >$20 more than state controlled liquor. But I walked into the store and saw only 2 of these left, and the manager said they were just released and sold like crazy. I wish I bought both of them despite the price. It's the best RR pick I've had. A good Russell's pick is hard to beat. Maybe because it's the oldest one I've had? Generally they are 8-9 years old, while this is closer to the 10-year age statement of the entry Russell's 10.

Triangle Spirits barrel- Deep complex wood on the nose, classic Russel's on the tongue. Oak and baking spices, well balanced and blending well. Single barrel amplifies it too, but missing the body necessary to carry the flavors.

Very good, smooth with a bite.

Very unique taste. Sweet on the nose. The initial taste is filled with spice and cinnamon. This moves to a raisen type of taste on the middle of the tongue. Left after with a carmel after taste. The flavor profile hides the alcohol. Very good.