Russell's Reserve 2003

The nose starts with a rich velvety cream cheese frosting along with a rich carrot cake followed by candied fruits of pears, apples and oranges followed by some light floral notes then some light spices along with light oak and a low ethanol burn. The taste starts with a rich velvety cream cheese frosting mouthfeel with a decadent carrot cake followed by candied fruits of pears, cherries, apples and oranges then light floral notes followed by milk chocolate, light spices, slight tannic oak and a low ethanol burn. The finish is long with chocolate, cream cheese frosting, carrot cake, lemon drop candy and light barrel spices that linger for minutes. For only 44.75% this is one of the richest mouthfeels I’ve ever experienced and can’t recall tasting cream cheese or carrot cake on any other whiskey. There is an incredible balance on this one with that cream cheese combining with fresh baked cake, candied citrus, floral notes and barrel spices that finishes long and demands another sip. This was enjoyed with friends and was the highlight of the night beating out the competition of Michter’s 10 year rye, Old Carter Rye, Chicken Cock 15 year and Elijah Craig Barrel Proof. It’s a shame I missed out on these as the secondary has priced these over $800 now, but I’ll be on the lookout if the bourbon gods were to smile on me and place one in a dusty liquor store for that $250 retail price.

Neat. Opened yesterday, so almost the neck pour. I adore this nose. So rich and decadent. The oak is velvety chocolate. Deep, dark cherry. Cinnamon and clove. Vanilla royal icing. Hint of pear. The oak is the main event but it’s surrounded by goodness. Creamy and oily mouthfeel, like melted ice cream. It’s just milk chocolate, melted ice cream. Matches the nose. Deep, dark cherry. Hint of apple. Vanilla and honey notes on the finish. Conflicted on this one. It’s so rich and flavorful, the mouthfeel is a knock out. There is a lack of depth and there is nothing too magical on the palate. It’s just a pleasure to drink it but it isn’t an experience. Looking forward to blinding this against WT 17 (the old Master’s Keep). On first impression, I liked the 17 more than this but we’ll see what the blind shows.

Aroma- holy crap… I got a splinter up my nose from the massive oak profile. Seriously… I can smell the oak as it sits on my end table. Once I get passed the oak, it’s predominantly smoke. I’m really reaching here, but I get a dark fruit and maple. Amazing aroma. Taste - oak and smoke are the big guys here. But the secondary notes really make this one nice. Herbal tea, caramel,leather, sap honestly comes to mind (like pine)… Overall- Incredible… the finish is super long for 89.5 proof. And I only wonder just how orgasmic this would be at a higher proof. But I’m gonna still give this a 5… because it is a lower proof bourbon. I don’t usually come across something that is this aromatic and flavorful at this low of abv… It’s absolutely tremendous.

Nose: caramel and red fruit, hint of oak. Lotta caramel, the nose is a caramel bomb as this opens. Little more cherry twizzler as it opens. Body: light Palate: caramel, vanilla, pretzle Finish: long, smokey, caramelly, hint of pepperiness on the tongue. Note: decided to pop this to compare with the single ricks camp nelson C and F for whiskey bight in american. This is a subtle but delicious dram. The finish is long which is suprising for the proof. Very nice.

Nose- Vanilla; butterscotch; gentle baking spices; peanuts; confectioners sugar Palate- Initially a wave of candy sweetness; vanilla; butterscotch; fresh herbs; caramel Finish- medium, oily finish; peanuts; soft baking spices; caramel Very very very good. Very reminiscent of 80/90s WT product. If it was a touch higher in proof this would be a 5/5 whiskey for me.

I love Turkey. I love the Russell's. So I am biased. When I drink this I imagine hearing someone say oh no! Oh no! and The budha of bourbon himself smashes through the wall and say OH YEAH!!! I can't believe this is sub 90 pf. This is what being alive is all aboot.