I’ll start by saying I’m a huge fan of Wild Turkey Distillery, WT 101 and Rare Breed in particular. The WT flavor profile fits everything I want to taste in a good strong everyday bourbon. I’ve tried most of the other distilleries 10 year or older aged stated products in this price range (Henry McKenna 10, Eagle Rare 10, Knob Creek 14yr), but never got around to Russell's Reserve 10, until now. Given my love for WT101 and Rare Breed, I am greatly anticipating the RR10! Let’s dig in! Enjoyed neat in a Glencairn, no water added. On the nose I get similar notes to 101, just more refined and a bit richer. I’m picking up their signature toasted barrel smell that I love, laced with sweet and buttery burnt sugar, and finished in cinnamon spice. Not the most complex or unique nose but everything comes together here in harmony that really invites a sip. Moving to the palate it’s got a nice oily coating feel, moderately spicy with some heat for a 45% ABV product. A little tartness and astringency comes in quick as It seems there are a bit more oaky tannins present, which gives way to bitter dark chocolate and orange zest. RR10 offers classic WT flavor, but is less rough around the edges than 101; and while it’s not extremely oaky for a 10 year, you can tell the age has refined out the firey rustic nature of 101, which I personally love anyhow. One thing missing from RR10 vs 101 is the oddly more pronounced char, smoke, or ash flavor in 101. I personally like the more char forwardness of 101. Also 101 is far more sweet cherry candy forward, which is mostly absent in RR10, and replaced with more tart and bitter chocolate and citrus. Again I’ll say RR is definitely more refined, but it almost refines out the best parts of 101 for me. A potential factor here is that 101 is (obviously) higher proof than the 45% of RR. It may be that RR is a bit too watered down for me, muting its best qualities. Alas, there’s only so much 10 year old stock to go around so it's often the nature of the beast to water down to stretch inventory and sell more. I really believe if this one were 50% ABV or higher, it would be killer! Rare Breed is the cask strength I’m after, but lacks the age statement and is blended of varying ages. The finish is moderate to long with toasted wood, char smoke, dry leather, and some vanilla and even honey late in the finish. Overall, I do like RR10 a lot actually, it’s still got the signature backbone of Wild Turkey, but in all its refined nature, it has lost a bit too, even in comparison to cheaper WT products, like 101. 101 is rough and rowdy and that’s part of its charm and appeal for me. 101 has much stronger sweeter cherry, high spice, and strong charred barrel notes. I honestly find more flavor in 101 than the RR10. If I’m looking for even more kick and punch, I think I much prefer WT Rare Breed to the RR10; even though you lose the aging, you gain all the flavor coming straight from the cask. Of the products I listed in the intro, I’d rate them in the following order of preference: Knob Creek SiB 14 yr ($38) tie with Rare Breed ($45) McKenna 10 BiB ($35) RR10 ($35) ER10 ($32) They are all in the $30 price range, save for RB, but all offer something unique and flavorful in their own right. The KC14 is just a monster of a good bourbon and the best value out there for a 14 year pour and at 60% ABV. It would honestly be a near tie for me between the HMcK10 and RR10. Their flavor profiles are certainly different but both very refined and tasty. And as much as I love ER, it just falls a little short of the others for me in direct comparison due to lack of spice/heat and more muted flavors. All of these are superb expressions of their respective distilleries, some are just a bit more to my liking than others. Cheers!