Russell's Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon

On the nose: vanilla, cinnamon, green apple, cinnamon apple pie On the palate: vanilla, green apple cinnamon pie with chocolate drizzled on it, baking spice, light cherry notes Finish: long, flavorful, keeps going.

Single barrel is sweeter on the front then RR10. Has oaky notes in middle followed by citrus funk similar to rare breed. More oak the rare breed. Rather have rare breed but this would be right below.

I’ve had this two separate times and have tasted pickle/brine on the front end both times (one of which was a blind tasting). Does anyone else taste that?

I get a lot of vanilla and oak on the nose, sort of like an oaky frosted Christmas cookie - it’s rather light and sweet and smooth on the nose. It’s minty and floral on my tongue, which is surprising given I get none of that on the nose. Well maybe a little mint? The vanilla comes in late. The finish is nice. Good little hug that lasts a little less than 10 seconds or so. It’s sort of one dimensional is my only knock against it. But it’s really smooth overall and an easy sipper. I’d give it like a 5.5 or 5.75 out of 10. So certainly above average I think.