Russell's Reserve - Bottle Barn Barrel Select - 9 year - Tyrone G - Floor 4 - Bourbon 750ml

Proof 110

Rickhouse Tyrone G Floor 4

Age 9 years, 11 months, 9 days (I’m rounding up to 10)

In the Glen for 15 minutes

I’ve had many of these Russell’s single barrel store picks over the years and quite frankly, they were all great. If you’re a Wild Turkey fan, I think you’ll agree. And I’ll go you a few steps further… I have only met one person out of 40 years of drinking Wild Turkey that said they didn’t like one of the core offerings. This includes many folks in Kentucky who work at esteemed distilleries. I mean it’s hard to go wrong with the Bird.

 I digress. I’ve sat and sipped this new barrel selection three times over the past five days and I am amazed by how much it has opened up and changed. At the very first crack of the bottle, all I could smell was the rickhouse, and if you’ve ever been inside of one, you know what I’m talking about. That sweet oaky, candy smell that if it was ever made into a perfume, every bourbon enthusiast would buy it for their wife. After a few days, it opens up more into classic Turkey territory with sweet oak, orange zest, nutmeg, dark chocolate, barrel char, cherry cola - but here’s the kicker…creamy vanilla.

During that first sip the dark dank, sweet oak overpowered the vanilla, orange, nutmeg and a faint bit of Big Cherry chocolate candy with cherry cordial on the inside. Just like the nose, letting this open up makes all the difference - it just gets better. The sweet oak is there and up front, but more subdued, followed but the nutmeg, but what really stands out is the creaminess. Yes, I said it! This is very creamy on the palate; makes me think of an orange cream soda.

At 110 proof, you get a nice lingering finish. Punchy baking spices and tobacco dominate. I spent the evening of my 40th birthday at The Formosa in Los Angeles drinking Old Fashions and the lovely bartender would light the expressed orange oil with a match, reminiscent of the burnt orange peel finish of this unique Russell's single barrel.

Nose: sweet oak, vanilla, orange zest, dark chocolate, cherry cola

Palate: orange cream soda, chocolate cherry cordial, nutmeg, sweet oak

Finish: long…lots of baking spices, tobacco, burnt orange peel, and that creaminess is still there