russell's reserve single rickhouse CN-E

At last, a single rickhouse expression from Wild Turkey has made its way onto my shelf. When I heard that this bottle was starting to appear on shelves, I decided that if I were to come across it in the wild, I would dismiss my misgivings about the harrowing price (which I wrote about in my write-up of CN-F) and finally fill this gap in my Turkey cabinet. Since the inception of this series, I have never seen with my own eyes a bottle on the shelf, so I figured this errant yet hopeful promise to myself was, let's say, somewhat fantastical. I have been gently but consistently applying increasing pressure on the whiskey brakes this entire year -- Not for lack of enthusiasm but more so a honing in on the particular aspects I love about the dark liquor. For this reason, I figured I wouldn't be upset at either result of my wager, and I said as much in conversation with my best friend a week or so back.

Not even a full day passed and I was poking around online whiskey groups while waiting for a burger. My buddy Bryan tossed out a link to some bundles from a Scottsdale area pizza kitchen and bottle shop, one of which happened to be CN-E along with two Private Barrel Selections they had done in the past (or were otherwise reselling -- I haven't dug into those yet). Given my fresh impulse to damn the price, it was almost automatic, and it's a good thing too because a couple days later when I picked it up, the employee who handed it over said, "Here ya go, our last Russell's bundle."

And so there it is: A bottle in a series that has evaded my capture for too long. Instead of relying on bar visits and samples from gracious friends, I can dive into this one at my leisure. I've decided to get this one on paper quick, not only because I have the wherewithal but, at the risk of spoiling the plot here, I thought the glory days of Turkey's bourbon terroir project were behind us. Imagine my surprise... Or don't bother, just read on.

This whiskey comes from "well-aged" barrels on the fifth floor of the Camp Nelson E rickhouse, the rear of which faces the Kentucky River. It is bottled at barrel strength, a staggering-for-Turkey 128 proof. 

Nose It would be criminal if I didn't start by saying the sky high proof delivers an intense aroma -- Not only layered and complex, but with the added context of an olfactory siege. Like smelling salts, but pleasurable. It lays a foundation of Dr. Pepper and builds blackberry jam, brandied cherry, and antique oak. There is a perfect balance of floral notes and dusty age. Flashes of overripe stone fruit punch into the overall aroma from time to time. This is a beautiful nose, both sophisticated and bombastic, that offers cogent guidance into the experience.

Palate Another cherry cola forward element. The front and middle palates are treated to an oily, explosive flavor impact, and by the time the deep palate engages, the proof has had time to create a ghostly sensation of effervescence. Dr. Pepper decided to abandon his doctorate and rob banks. Oak makes another showing, transferring from the nose but enhanced with zingy, pungent spice -- Nutmeg, allspice, clove. Just as the nose offered sage guidance, the deep palate hints at sweet cherry cigar tobacco notes.

Finish Medicinal cherry and bold cigar tobacco lead the charge of a forceful, determined finish. The flavors linger in near perpetuity, crashing in and out and giving you time to explore before the next sip. This is truly one of, if not the best finish I've ever experienced in a whiskey. Hallmark flavors of mature bourbon -- tobacco, aged leather, rickhouse oak -- bestow the perfect ending to a refined whiskey experience.

Notes I wouldn't be surprised if this bottle becomes one of the titans of bourbon. It is damn near everything I want in a whiskey. In a sense, I would say that it plays the same music as Russell's Reserve 15-Year, but just in a different key. Sometimes there are certain pours that really transcend my ability to describe how good they are, so I'll just leave it at this: It's a damn good whiskey.