Russell's Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon

My barrel was distilled on 12/12/2011, dumped on 07/08/2020 then bottled on 7/29/2020. It was barrel # 20-0465 that aged in warehouse B on floor 4. The nose is rich starting with a mix of dusty oak, fronds of dill and fresh popped popcorn with a caramel drizzle on top then chocolate covered peanuts followed by fruits of sour caramel apple lollipop, orange zest and maraschino cherries that transitions to moderate spices of spearmint, cloves, light leather and dusty oak with high ethanol burn. The taste is a medium mouthfeel starting with a mix of dusty oak, dill and orange pudding then dark chocolate covered peanuts followed by a moderate drying spice that fades fruits of sour apple jolly rancher and Morello cherry jam on charred toast that transitions to spearmint, black pepper, cloves, light leather and slightly ashy oak with high ethanol burn. The finish is medium length with caramel apple, Nutella on charred whole wheat toast, fronds of dill, spearmint, light leather and dusty oak. Overall, this is a solid bourbon that is slightly thinner with a higher spice than I prefer, but still comes together extremely well. These are single barrels so YMMV, but at the cost of around $60 it’s hard to beat this outside of an OF1920 and are much better than most of the celebrity swills or NDP in overpriced packaging being released today.

Smell of caramel apple with some vanilla. And a taste that follows suit. Long finish that rolls through an immediate hit of spice, followed by caramel apple.

Lots of thoughts. Fresh from the silo, snickers bar, old ladies cookies fresh from the oven. Coconut, spicy, long finish. Bourbon embrace. Clear the sinuses. Oily as heck. Best bang for buck bourbon readily available and I will die on that hill.

Graham Cracker, cherry, apple, caramel on the nose - 8 Palate mirrors the nose with some added raisin, pepper corn and cinnamon - 8 Finish is longer than most with strong cherry and oak with butterscotch and leather - 9 Overall: 8.5 I’m making sure this one is always on the shelf and is a fair stagg jr replacement

outstanding bottle. in my opinion as enjoyable as blantons or weller.