Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel is a prototypical Wild Turkey profile when all is said and done.
The Nose
Initially, there was a little bit of cherry, honey, and vanilla on the nose. After that, the cinnamon and rye spices took over. You have to let the bourbon sit in the glass for a while before you can sense the caramel.
The Palate
On the first sip, there is intense and sweet-spicy heat. The sweetness is in the form of honey, but the hot spice dominates the sweetness with little viscosity. Later black pepper heat moves to the forefront—typical Wild Turkey.
The Finish
The old smoked tobacco and spice finish lasts a long time. The heat does not go away quickly. It lingers on the back of the throat with some intensity and warmth as it goes down the esophagus.
While I am not a big Wild Turkey profile guy, I understand how other people love it. I would lean more toward Wild Turkey Rare Breed for my taste buds. That seems more refined. Of course, this is the neck pour. Let's see what this tastes like in a few weeks.