Milliardo
Russell's Reserve Private Barrel Selection
Bourbon — Kentucky, USA
Reviewed
December 14, 2020 (edited September 23, 2021)
It’s 2020. It’s December. Let’s shut this year down with a brand new whiskey (or whisky) every day. It’s my own personal whiskey advent calendar. +6!
Dec. 14, 2020
I was on my way to work last February, and I stopped at my favorite liquor store. The time doesn’t matter. It was 8:37 am. The guy mentions to me that they were in the process of picking a barrel from Russell’s Reserve, and he pauses and says: “Say, you wouldn’t want to... nah, I’m sure you have better things to do than drink whiskey at 9 am.” I was offended. It’s like he didn’t know me at all.
When it tried the three samples, there was a crappier version of Russell’s Reserve 10, which is truly impressive if you think about it. They also had a much softer, more tolerable version of Russell’s Reserve 10. I think they poured like 5 cups of sugar in the barrel, or cocaine or something. But then, in the middle, was a sample that was very different. It didn’t taste like Russell’s Reserve at all. It tasted like exceedingly high quality WT juice. I could easily see this barrel aging for another decade to become a Master’s Keep contender. It was almost impossible to believe it had any affiliation with RR.
I like to think I had something to do with the section of this barrel. Or at the very least, my bourbon landlord knew that if he picked either of the other two barrels, I was going to give him shit every time I walked in there. Basically forever. Either way, I am no enjoying barrel # 20-0637, warehouse E (which I believe stands for excellence), floor 4. It’s aged just under 9 years.
Nose is bourbon standard and well done. There’s cane sugar, lemon, caramel. Hint of cedar, possibly orange, but lemon is my main takeaway.
Body has caramel, leather, cream, chocolate. Delicious. So smooth.
Finish is black pepper. There’s salt too, and a very dry mouth feel. This finish reminds me of rum-finished bourbons, which I’m also typically a big fan of.
This is simple, but so enjoyable. I would consider this to be a barebones, high quality representation of bourbon made by people that know what the hell they’re doing. At 55%! It’s not barrel finished, and nobody ever took this on a boat. It’s technique and experience from my favorite distillery in KY. I literally could drink this all day.
Here’s my beef. I hate Russell’s Reserve. I’ve always hated Russell’s Reserve. I tried RR10 side by side with this bottle just to make sure I still hate Russell’s Reserve. I do. But I freaking love this. If someone over at WT takes heavenly pure barrels like this and then mixes it with whatever swill brings the batch quality down to the Draino substitute often referred to as Russell’s Reserve 10, then... I shall wag a finger at them. Verily.
I can’t be objective. This is my baby. 5 stars, and I’ll defend it to the death.
‘Tis the season. I’m day-to-day on my whiskey selection, so if you’re reading this and there’s something readily available out there you’d like me to enjoy/suffer through this holiday season, leave it in the comments. Merry whiskey to all, and to all a beer flight!
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Haha, I found out a few hours ago @Milliardo !
I didn’t even know distiller awards were a thing! Very cool, and big congrats @ContemplativeFox @Jose-Massu-Espinel and @1901. I was wondering how you guys always seemed to know what you were talking about 😉
@PBMichiganWolverine your own pace is the right pace, i say. 700 eh? Way behind ya at 40+ but growing at a rate that i am (and my wife) surprised at. Tough to drink it in a lifetime but when the time comes i expect we can pack it in to the cryogenic chamber.
Thank you @PBMichiganWolverine @Soba45 - I am honored by your words of support :)
@1901 @Scott_E and i were the slow ones in that group...about a pour/week, I’ve now gone to a pour/month. My bottle collection still remains 700.
@PBMichiganWolverine like a Rocky Balboa i still think there is plenty of punch left in that group. Anyway, even if the quantity has dropped the quality hasn’t.
just to add...in those 5 years, most memorable—the tastings over at @Richard-ModernDrinking , the epic Scottish Distillery tour team organized by @Generously_Paul and @LeeEvolved , and of course the epic 51yr Craigellechie pour with @Scott_E . Hey, @Soba45 if I’m ever in NZ, which I’m guessing I will be for holidays, I’ll look you up.
@Scott_E @Soba45 yeah—-5 years for me. Through it, made some good buddies. @Soba45 fitting end—-started with an Irish 21, ending with one.
@Soba45 I have been on 6+ years. Wow, Irish tasting bookends.
Yeah 4 years it was. Started and finished with my irish heritage 4 years ago 1st taste Teeling Silver Reserve 21. Last taste Redbreast 21..:-)
@Generously_Paul @PBMichiganWolverine @Scott_E @LeeEvolved @cascode @Slainte-Mhath Can't believe is it 4 or more years have passed on this platform collaborating, interacting and contributing to the community. The timeline is a bit hazy but I think you guys were some of the very first ones I started interacting with....good times!
@PBMichiganWolverine @Soba45 :) thanks to all! it is always nice to be awarded for drinking!
@PBMichiganWolverine Yes i was thinking that. Great time to be bowing out and passing on the mantle to the newer generation who are reaching even greater heights! I look forward to 2021 and seeing all the great new reviews from @ContemplativeFox @1901 @Jose-Massu-Espinel and others
@PBMichiganWolverine Thanks to all!! lets continue enjoying whisky!
@PBMichiganWolverine the changing of the guard. It’s all fun and amazed at the depth of reviews and quantity. I look back when I first started and the reviews were just 100 words or so. Much congratulations to the new guard.
@Milliardo I bought a bottle of a Total Wine single barrel pick earlier this year that I thought was great. Much better than the 10 year core bottling. Store picks are a gamble. Less so when you actually do the barrel picking :) And congratulations to all the Distiller awardees! I’ve learned so much from you this past year. And from the old guard as well. I hope everyone has a wonderful and safe holiday season.
@PBMichiganWolverine yes it would appear our time has come and gone. It was fun though!
@ContemplativeFox on a related note—-congrats on the Distiller award! Hey @Soba45 @Generously_Paul @LeeEvolved @Scott_E ...first time we are no longer in the awards list. I think our voluminous days are now past us. Glad to pass the torch to the new generation @ContemplativeFox @Jose-Massu-Espinel and @1901 .
Nice—-you got to pick! Hopefully you bought a few?
Wow, you got to help choose the barrel? Amazing!
@Ctrexman and here I thought we were becoming friends... jk, I was probably a tad too harsh on RR10 😇
What ....no boat , Im out.....Jk nice review though I do kinda enjoy the RR10 so maybe draino should put me in the next commercial I could use the extra scratch to get some more Cowboy bourbon