Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Old Bourbon

ReviewsAmerican WhiskeyWild TurkeyBourbon

Aug 19

Russell’s Reserve tends to be an overlooked product in my opinion. It’s not the brand leader that Wild Turkey 101 is, or the barrel proof product that Rare Breed is, or the 101-proof single barrel they have in Kentucky Spirit. It’s not a special Master’s Keep series release either. As a single barrel release - both regular release and store/group picks - there is a fun diversity of flavor and there’s fun in hunting releases from specific warehouses or locations.

So, within that spectrum, where does this release fit? In many ways, I feel like this is a Master’s Keep release that just wasn’t released that way. Unlike other Russell’s Reserve, it is not single barrel (it’s batched), it is older (most Russell’s single barrels are said to be around 6-10 years old, and the regular rye is 6 while the bourbon is 10), and it bears both Eddie and Jimmy’s names, just like a Master’s Keep would. Like the rest of Russell’s Reserve products, it’s non-chill filtered.

Interestingly, Wild Turkey didn’t put this on their website. I always find that odd, especially for large companies (with an even larger parent in Campari). Why not showcase a product you’ve obviously put effort and money into? Plus, since Russell’s Reserve bourbon, rye, and single barrel are all already on the site, it’s not like they’re reinventing the wheel.

Without information from the source, if you will, we can be thankful for people like Dave Jennings, AKA RareBird101, who is about as knowledgable about Wild Turkey as anyone not surnamed Russell. His post on this release is informative in its own right, but also delves deeply into the secondary market that ballooned RR13 from its $69.99 MSRP to $350-$400 or more.

As I’ve said before, I’m no stranger to the secondary markets, and will not throw stones. Jennings brings to bear great points that deserve consideration, and I hope you’ll read his post. In many markets, this product was treated like a BTAC - it never seemed to hit the shelf. I can say that it was on secondary long, long before it supposedly reached New York distribution, and I never saw it on a shelf here, either.

The big question, of course, is how was it? For a $70 MSRP? It’s fantastic. Hell, I might not pay it, but I think Wild Turkey could have put this at a $150 MSRP and it would’ve been a fair price in today’s market. They could’ve released it as a Master’s Keep edition at $200 and some people would start bitching, but it would sell. $400 though? Come on. Of course there were people who bought it at that rate, and some are still circulating if you really want one.

I can tell you straight - it’s a great batched edition of Russell’s Reserve, and if you find it at a reasonable price you won’t be disappointed. For me, I’m appreciative of the sample I received, but I’ll stick with my Rare Breed and be happy.

Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Old Bourbon: Specs

Classification: Bourbon

Origin: Wild Turkey Distillery

Mashbill: 75% Corn, 13% Rye, 12% Malt

Proof: 114.8 (57.4% ABV)

Age: 13Years Old

Location: Kentucky

Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Old Bourbon Price: $69.99

No Official Website

Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Old Bourbon Review: Tasting Notes

Eye: Bronzed amber. Very thin rims, barely any legs.

Nose: Nail polish followed immediately by heavy caramel and proof heat. Sweeter, fruitier caramels start opening up and the acetone passes quickly. Brown sugar and fresh baking spices.

Palate: Tannic and hot up front, lots of oak and spice. Toasted whole wheat with warm grape jelly. Oak rounds out to become creamy and viscous. Mouthfeel is a touch spicy, dry, medium bodied as the oak builds, coating the whole palate in warmth. Cinnamon and oak predominate, with milk chocolate opening after a bit of air.

Finish: Finish is tannic again, though sweet oak does remain both woody and creamy. Medium-to-long finish.

Overall: Overall, there are really good flavors here, red wine and brown sugar caramels, but the oak is just over the edge for me. A year or two less and this would be in great shape - just too tannic for me at 13.

Final Rating: 6.8

10 | Insurpassable | Nothing Else Comes Close (Blanton’s Straight from the Barrel)

9 | Incredible | Extraordinary (GTS, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B518 and B520)

8 | Excellent | Exceptional (12+YO MGP Bourbon, Highland Park Single Barrels)

7 | Great | Well above average (Blanton’s Original, Old Weller Antique, Booker’s)

6 | Very Good | Better than average (Four Roses Small Batch Select, Knob Creek 14+ YO Picks)

5 | Good | Good, solid, ordinary (Elijah Craig Small Batch, Buffalo Trace, Old Grand-Dad Bottled-in-Bond)

4 | Sub-par | Many things I’d rather have (A.D. Laws Four Grain, Compass Box “Oak Cross”)

3 | Bad | Flawed (Iron Smoke Bourbon, Balcones)

2 | Poor | Forced myself to drink it (Buckshee Bourbon and Rye)

1 | Disgusting | Drain pour (Virginia Distilling Co. Cider Cask)