Swahili1
Russell's Reserve 13 Year Bourbon (2021 Release)
Bourbon — Kentucky, USA
Reviewed
July 15, 2021 (edited April 27, 2024)
Nose is intoxicating red fruit, sweet caramel, and oak. Unlike most Turkey, there is very little funk which I do miss, but after 13 yrs in the barrel the mellowing blows me away. It is vibrant and delicious.
Palate is caramel and vanilla, like bullseye candy. Layers of ripe red apple and a nuttiness. There is some back end spice that makes it ao balanced. Really enjoyable.
Finish- Oaky and rich with an even tempered warming and leaves you on a delightful taffy apple aftertaste.
Overall- I am partial to Wild Turkey products in general. I sample and buy every Master's Keep, collect Russell's limited releases, and I am a sucker for their single barrel picks. My favorite drinkers are Rare Breed and 101. This though may well be the single best bourbon they have produced in a very long time. It lacks the signature funkiness you will get in 17 yr. BiB, and it does not have the crafty finish of WTMK Revival. It is not as spicy as Russell's 2002 edition. What it does have is waves of delicious fruit, caramel, vanilla, and oak. At the 69.99 pricetag (if you can get it for that) this bottle is a winner! Think WTMK goodness without paying for the fancy box.
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I'd love to try this, but I've only seen it once. In a lottery. For $300.