BACKGROUND: Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel first appeared on liquor store shelves in 2013, and the barrels used for bottling are touted as the hand-picked, cream-of-the-crop personally selected by Wild Turkey Master Distillers Jimmy and Eddie Russell from the center cut of the rickhouse. Before being considered for selection, the bourbon is aged in the deepest number 4 or “alligator” charred American white oak barrels to ensure the richest flavor and color. Unlike many whiskies on the market, the bourbon in RRSB is also non-chill filtered. Chill-filtration is a  common  process whereby the whiskey is chilled  at temperatures below freezing and is passed through an absorption filter, thus removing fatty acids and other flavor contributors such as esters and proteins.  By avoiding the chill-filtration process, the whiskey is bottled with more flavor compounds and a deeper color, which is denoted by an impressive haze when ice or chilled water is added. It is interesting to note that Wild Turkey uses only one mashbill for its entire bourbon line - Wild Turkey 80, WT101, Rare Breed, Russell’s Reserve, Kentucky Spirit, and others - and the differences in flavors among expressions are almost entirely the result of aging and placement. The lone bourbon mashbill consists of 75% corn, 13% rye, and 12% barley. Its single rye mashbill is comprised of 51% rye, 37% corn, and 12% barley. The 110 proof Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel retails for $60, which is about $20 more than the 90 proof Russell’s Reserve white label that carries a 10 year age statement. A special 114 proof Russell’s Reserve that was distilled in 2002 costs $250, but it is a bit of a unicorn as only 3,640 bottles were released.   NOSE: For a 110 proof bourbon, the nose is quite sweet, delicate, and reserved. It offers oak (RRSB is rumored to be aged 8 to 9 years), orange peel, sugary vanilla cake frosting, and a good bit of corn. PALATE: The palate starts with an alcohol bang from the get-go, and it is followed by loads of oak, cinnamon, dark cherry tartness, and the aforementioned vanilla frosting. The experience is almost a seesaw of sweet and spice in alternating waves. The viscosity is so delightfully thick that the bourbon is almost chewy. FINISH: The finish is long and warming and all of the flavors dissolve into a lingering rye mint. A touch of oaky bitterness tickles the back of the throat. FINAL ASSESSMENT: This is not a beginner’s bourbon, but rather one that experienced bourbon aficionados will pull off of their shelf time and time again. When you consider that its standard WT101 expression, Rare Breed, Russell’s 10 Year, and this single barrel can all be purchased for $60 or less, Wild Turkey likely offers consumers among the best bottle-for-bottle return on investment of any distillery. Plus…I think Jimmy Russell is one of the coolest sumbitches alive and kicking today.