dhsilv2
Russell's Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon
Bourbon — Kentucky, USA
Reviewed
September 20, 2019 (edited June 23, 2020)
OK so this is a store pick, but it's a single barrel product so how special can a store pick even be?
55%rickhouse CNF and Floor 641. Good info and I know the turkey fans will know just which rickhouse that is and will even know which notes they'd expect from me. For me, I'm a bit disappointed we don't get age detail.
Nose - So there's a hair of wood funk to go with our traditional bourbon notes of oak, caramel, and vanilla. I get a touch of finger nail polish remover. I get a touch of cherry. There's a lot of alcohol on here, far more than 55% should indicate. Overall a nice pleasant all bit it a bit alcohol forward nose. Not overly complex but not boring. I like the cherry note on the finish and that bit of oak funk it a nice switch up.
Taste - Not a nice way to start this but it's hot on the tongue, really overly alcohol, rare breads don't have this much alcohol for me. So get some of the fruity cherry note but it gets hit with some off note as a swallow, it's some bad oak and just crazy astringent, it's bitter, and wow the finish is just an alcohol burnt mouth. Water certainly does help, it brings in some nutty character but it doesn't mask the off notes, it does curb the alcohol. Yeah bitter oak and it's really keeping me from even getting into the nice bourbon notes under it.
I'm really disappointed in this bottle. There's just no shaking that it's not good whisky. Hopefully, I'll get to try a better bottle and I'll put a new review up. For now I'm going with 0.5 as the nose is actually nice enough and I enjoy smelling it.
60.0
USD
per
Bottle
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My RR SIB store pick was a total red hot bomb on the finish. Gotta say I was underwhelmed as well, especially for the price point.
I'll be honest, more often than not I have been underwhelmed by these SiB releases. When they are good they can be special. However, in my experience that has been the exception not the norm.
I am also a real fan of the standard Russell Reserve 10, too bad this one didn’t deliver for you.
@dhsilv2 bummer. The standard Russell’s Reserve 10 is a real treat. Thanks for the heads up before I shelled out the extra $25 for the single barrel.
@dhsilv2 it’s a single barrel bourbon. Each barrel can vary. And some enthusiasts, like yourself, can taste the difference.
Oh 100% an off bottle @fynancdude
Not the same juice I drank. One of my all time favs.
I do fully believe my bottle is off profile and this score should not completey scare people off from buying it, but there imo are better options from wild turkey that are also cheaper.
I love russels but the price does sting IMO. been looking for a good review of this one before I tried it, will prob skip and go for the russels rye when I see it again instead.