Russell's Reserve Single Barrel Rye

The rye of all ryes. Best of the best. Sweet but has the rye hug on the end. Perfect pour

Cinnamon, leather, tobacco, smokey finish

Words don’t do this one justice. Single barrel purchased 2019, 104 proof and dark amber in the bottle but more of a burnt orange in the glass. Opened this many moons ago and is to this day a bottle I would take anywhere. A burst of pine forest on a hot, cloudless day. Clover honey, cedar, Earl Grey tea and tobacco. The nose just doesn’t stop evolving. It’s like breakfast and hot baked cinnamon rolls are calling... The entry is spicy and full of citrus, tobacco, clove and pecans. No bite per se but a building warmth with the long finish that returns to the Earl Grey and clover honey with pine spice and maybe a puff of char. Compared to a Willett 4y rye this has more clover honey sweetness and the pine spice. Both are fantastic and while I’d gladly sip either this one creates an odd, almost emotional attachment. I think it’s due to the finish (powerful, lasting, damn-near inspiring). This is truly something special. Could it be better? I’d like a little more viscosity, maybe some leather layered in there. With those additions I might hide a body for this whiskey... Some things are better left the way they are. @WhiskeyLonghorn it may be the one - by which I mean don’t buy it or sell me yours.

A casual survey of American reality dating shows or online dating sites and apps consistently advertise their quest for "the one". The one who will make all your dreams come true and help you reach maximum self-actualization in the form of romantic bliss. If bourbon and rye are some of America's finer exports, than our contributions to the world dating pool are the antithesis of that. I met Mrs. Whiskey_Longhorn the old way, and we're quite happy. No swiping necessary. Anyway, here's a whiskey. A Kentucky straight rye whiskey to be exact. Damn good rye too. From our friends over at Wild Turkey, this is a Single Barrel rye whiskey, 104 proof, NCF, bursting with flavor and character, and my new favorite rye. Pulled from the center ricks at the [now] famed Camp Nelson warehouse (home to many recent RR SiB Bourbons and this year's Master's Keep BiB), this comes in a fetching bulbous decanter with a forest green label that brings out the rich mahogany color (cue Ron Burgundy) of the liquid. Before I go any further, please understand that with single barrel picks, your mileage may vary, though I've found that most distilleries only put out a single barrel line when there's a reasonable level of consistency (at least within 1 standard deviation of flavor profile). I've been quite deliberate about letting this one breathe. The pour I'm writing about tonight comes from a bottle that I've been sipping on for about 2 weeks now, the fill level is below the label, and I let it air out in the Glen before sipping. NOW, that said, it's sitting on the desk next to me and I can smell it billowing out of the glass from 2 feet away. It's an old school American bakery in here. Rye bread, cinnamon buns, cherry pie with graham cracker crust, some bitter dark chocolate, caramels, and the ubiquitous barrel spice (almost too much but juuuuuuuust the right amount). If you give it the time, the nose rewards you with many tasty treats. I'm generally not one to tell you how to drink your whiskey, but with this one, please, please tip it back and just let it sit on your tongue for 10-15 seconds. It is THE best way to experience it. It has a slow build, similar to a hot pepper that enters mild enough for you to say "OH, that's not so hot", only for it to smite you moments later. This rye blooms on the palate, gently at first with a chewy caramel cherry flavor. Giving it a little chew brings out some more of the oak tannins (I'm guessing this is 6-9 year old rye), and then as you swallow, BAM, there's the pepper, opening and expanding into your chest with the force of an erupting volcano. If it feels uncomfortable at first, that's normal. Ride the wave. So the final verdict here is a 4.5. Highly recommend. This holds its own against Pikesville (though the profiles are different), leaves the standard RR rye dead in the dust, and though I haven't had the Cornerstone, multiple reviews say that it's this rye but with a longer finish. Not worth $175. Not when you can get this for $60. Availability may be limited in your area from what I hear, as Wild Turkey makes a lot more bourbon than rye, but if you see this and you're a rye fan, buy on sight. Damn good rye. Dare I say, I think I've found "the one". Cheers!

Wow. Don't sleep on this bottle. The nose is a cross between Pennsylvania rye and Kentucky rye, but muted - spice, black pepper, dark sugar Flavor is all sweet cream but with a caramelized edge - like cream and sugar reduced on a stove to intensify the flavor and add a maillard effect. There is clear corn flavor that undercuts the harshness of the rye here (low rye, high corn mashbill), with muted rye in the nose and a smokey rye undercurrent throughout. Some associate the flavor undercurrent with tobacco, like a fine smooth cigar with a marshmallow fluff like quality underneath. This is a WINNER.

Smell is rye spice, vanilla, brown sugar and black licorice. Taste follows, with spice up front giving away to a sweetness and the addition of orange zest.