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Wild Turkey Russell's Reserve Rye 6 Year Old

Solid Mid-Range Rye

0 688

@VictorReview by @Victor

4th Feb 2011

0

  • Nose
    ~
  • Taste
    ~
  • Finish
    ~
  • Balance
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  • Overall
    88

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Distribution of ratings for this: brand user

Russell's Reserve is the selection of master distiller Jimmy Russell of Austin Nichols/Wild Turkey, in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky.

Nose: oak, caramel, vanilla

Taste: this comes on with a lot of low wood notes early, is rather sweet, but that sweetness is disguised by the strong rye spices. This has a much lower pitch than most ryes, but not nearly as low as the Van Winkle Rye. I almost never add water to rye whiskey, but it actually opens up the flavours with this whiskey quite a lot

Finish: long, with wood tones dominating spiciness at the periphery

Balance: this is woody in the way that some 15+ yr old bourbons are woody-- a remarkable thing in that the Russell's Reserve Rye is only 6 years in the wood. This is one whiskey that those who like big oak flavours will like and those who do not like the strong wood flavours will probably not care for

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6 comments

@joshk
joshk commented

This one has much more vanilla then one would expect from a rye whiskey. I love sipping this one when I want a 'light' rye. (i.e. sweet over spice but not corn/maze sweet). I would rate it in the low 90s

13 years ago 0

@Victor
Victor commented

@joshk, I can easily understand how a person could rate the Russell's Reserve Rye as high as perhaps 92. There are no real flaws here, just an individual preference for flavour profiles. Jim Murray gave this whiskey a 91 in his 2011 Whisky Bible.

13 years ago 0

@Alanxv
Alanxv commented

@Victor,I just opened a bottle of Russell's 6yo Rye based on your review. I really like the woody sweetness of bourbon so I thought the Russell's reserve would make an easy transition as I delve into rye. I wasn't wrong. As always my first taste was neat. My initial reaction to the rush of spicy heat that follows the sweet woody flavor reminded my of Jackie Gleason. After a couple of gasps and a few self inflicted punches in the chest I exclaimed, "THAT'S GOOD BOOZE", very loudly.

11 years ago 0

@Victor
Victor commented

@Alanxv, Wow! That's nice to get such a good strong reaction from one's drink!

11 years ago 0

@Wills
Wills commented

Victor what do you mean by the lower pitch? My english/whisky education needs some help here ;)

Ty

11 years ago 0

@Victor
Victor commented

@Wills, I am using music analogy. I am not sure how else to describe it in words.

11 years ago 0

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